INCIDENCE OF JUVENILE THYROTOXICOSIS IN DENMARK, 1982-1988 - A NATIONWIDE STUDY

The objective of this study was to ascertain the annual incidence dens ity of thyrotoxicosis in children under the age of 15 years in Denmark in 1982-1988. The design was based on computerized hospital registrat ion of patient admittances in all departments of paediatrics and inter nal medicine of Denmark (Faroe Islands and Greenland excluded). Fifty- six children (48 girls and 8 boys) had a confirmed diagnosis of thyrot oxicosis, giving a national incidence density of 0.79/100 000 person-y ears. In children aged 0-4 years the incidence was very low (0.1/100 0 00), with no sex difference. In boys aged 5-9 years a similar low inci dence was found, while in boys aged 10-14 years the incidence increase d to 0.48/100 000. In girls aged 5-9 years the incidence increased to 0.96/100 000, reaching a maximum of 3.01 in the 10-14-year-old girls. In children of >4 years of age a female preponderance of 6.7:1 was sig nificant. It is concluded that thyrotoxicosis is a rare disorder in Da nish children under the age of 15 years, and the incidence increases w ith age. Female preponderance is significant from early childhood.