[What would happen if day care centers closed?]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Day care centers are known settings for the transmission of infectious diseases among young children.
• Previous studies have indicated a higher incidence of common illnesses in children attending day care compared to those cared for at home.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between a day care center strike and emergency episodes in young children.
• To assess the impact of reduced day care attendance on pediatric emergency service utilization.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study was conducted in Vitoria, Spain.
• Emergency episodes and hospital admissions for children under 14 were compared during a 2004 day care strike period (September-November) with the preceding five years.
• Statistical analysis involved a comparison of proportions with a significance level of p < 0.005.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in emergency episodes was observed in children under three years old during October and November of the strike period (p < 0.01).
• No significant differences in emergency rates were found for children over three years old.
• Hospital admission rates remained unchanged across all age groups during the strike.

Conclusions:

• Children attending day care centers appear to have an elevated risk of contracting common, likely infectious, diseases.
• The findings underscore the role of day care settings in driving demand for pediatric emergency services.
• Recommendations include maximizing hygienic and sanitary measures within day care centers rather than closure.