The San Diego Safe and Healthy Children in Day Care Project monitored the illness of children and providers in child care programs over a 19 month period. Information about illness episodes were obtained from 112,629 child weeks of surveillance involving 3560 children enrolled in 163 facilities. There were a total of 14,474 illness epidoses. Of these, 2775 ( 19.2%) were medically attended , for an incidence of medically attended illness episodes ( MAIE's) of 128.1 per 100 child-years. The most common illnesses and incidence rates were: otitis media (41.9), cold(10.9),viral illness (7.1),rhinitis (5.9), conjunctivitis (5.5), bronchitis (5.1),streptococcal infection (4.4), and influen za (4.1). Children in family child care homes experienced 217 MAIE's per 100 child-years compared to children in child care centers who experienced 95 MAIE's per 100 child- years. Contrary to previous reported studies, in this study children enrolled in family child care homes experienced more illnesses per child than children enrolled in child care centers.
Learning Objectives: Learn about the incidence of medically attended illness in children enrolled in child care programs; Learn which illnesses are most common in child care programs; Learn how child care centers compare with family child care homes
Keywords: Child Care, Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.