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Increased frequency of cytomegalovirus infection in children in group day care
Insights
Day care attendance significantly increases cytomegalovirus (CMV) acquisition in young children. This early CMV infection in daycare settings poses risks for transmission to caregivers and potential fetal complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus with varying prevalence in pediatric populations.
- Understanding CMV transmission dynamics is crucial for public health, especially in group settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in children attending a day care center versus those cared for at home.
- To identify age-related patterns of CMV shedding in young children.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 103 children in a day care center and 62 children cared for at home.
- Detection of CMV through serum antibody testing, viruria, and saliva/urine specimen analysis.
Main Results:
- Day care attendees showed a significantly higher prevalence of CMV shedding (57%) compared to home-cared children (18% antibody, 8% viruria).
- CMV shedding rates were highest in children aged 12-18 months (78%) in the day care group.
- Infants under 1 year had lower CMV excretion rates (<10%).
Conclusions:
- Group day care settings facilitate early acquisition of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in children.
- Children in day care centers can serve as a source for CMV transmission to susceptible adults, including pregnant mothers, posing a risk for congenital CMV infection.
Abstract:
The prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in 103 children attending a single day care center was compared with that of 62 children kept at home. Demographic features of the day care group were similar to those of the home care group; in both groups, most of the children were white, were from middle-income families with two or fewer children, and had parents with 15 or more years of education. Ten of 57 (18%) children in home care had serum antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and 2/25 (8%) had viruria. In contrast, 59/103 (57%) of children from the day care center were shedding CMV in urine or saliva. Although less than 10% of infants aged less than 1 year were excreting CMV, 78% of infants studied between 12 and 18 months of age had CMV isolated from a saliva or urine specimen. Group day care appears likely to result in early acquisition of CMV. Excretion of CMV by children in day care centers could result in transmission of the virus to susceptible day care workers or mothers, with the potential risk of fetal infection.