We examined the pattern of prescribed drug use in Danish children and used a pharmacoepidemiological prescription database to identify all reimbursed prescriptions for children aged 0-15 y living in North Jutland County (population 95 189), Denmark, during 1997. We identified 154 189 prescriptions for 48 091 drug users. The 20 most frequently prescribed chemical substance subgroups comprised 71.3% of all prescriptions. The mean annual prescription rate was 1621/1000 children/y. Overall, 50.6% of the population received one or more prescription. In children younger than 3 y, 75.3% received prescriptions and 17.5% obtained five or more prescriptions. Systemic antibiotics, anti-asthmatics, ophthalmologicals and dermatological corticosteroids accounted for 82% of prescriptions. One-third of the young children received anti-asthmatics, mainly oral beta-2 agonists, and almost half received antibiotics, mainly broad-spectrum penicillins. In the 7-15-y-olds, 39.1% received prescriptions. Hormones, antihistamines, anti-epileptics, anti-acne preparations and anti-diabetics comprised an increasing proportion of prescriptions. About 20% received antibiotics and 6% anti-asthmatics. In conclusion, the level of exposure to prescribed drugs was considerable at all ages and was highest in early childhood. Our study supports the need for epidemiological studies on the reasons for drug use and evaluation of their pharmacological effects in children.