Abstract
In the U.S. the number of day care facilities is large and rapidly increasing. The precise frequency, nature and age-distribution of infections have not been established for various types of day care. This study was undertaken to prospectively compare these variables in children in day care centers {(DC)> 7 children}, family day care { (FC) 2-6} children and home care (HC).
Children born at Magee Women's Hospital from Jun '85 to Apr '86 were eligible for study if their parents had decided on a type of child care and were willing to maintain a daily health calendar. Children entering FC (30) and DC (36) were matched as closely as possible with children in HC (120) for SES, sex and number of siblings. The families were telephoned every 2 weeks; the type and severity of illnesses experienced during the previous interval were recorded utilizing a standardized questionnaire. “Severe” illnesses were defined by high fever (T> 102°F, >3 days), duration >10 days or a physician visit.
Children have been followed for 7-16 months. The source of medical care and assessment were private practitioners in more than 90% of each group. Children in DC experienced a greater frequency (6.9 vs 3.1 days of illness/month) and more “severe” illnesses (35% vs 18%) than children in HC (p<.05) during their first year of life. Almost all infections involved the respiratory tract. Tympanostomy tube insertion was undertaken in 0.8% of children in HC, 0.0% in FC and 16.7% in DC. Continued follow-up is necessary to determine whether this pattern of infection will be maintained.
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Wald, E., Byers, C. & Dashefsky, B. FREQUENCY OF INFECTIONS IN VARIOUS DAY CARE SETTINGS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 263 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00573
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00573