A recent study conducted by researchers from University College London in the UK, published in late March of this year in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews, reveals that children who regularly attend nurseries are more prone to illnesses than their peers. However, they tend to experience fewer diseases during their early school years.
The researchers, all of whom are parents of young children, undertook this study to understand the prevalence of illnesses among children in nurseries, the reasons behind this increased susceptibility, its impact on the immune system, and how parents can help protect their children.
Details of the Findings
The researchers clarified that the frequent occurrence of illness when starting nursery, although distressing for both the child and parents, is entirely natural. Studies indicate that a one-year-old child can contract numerous infectious diseases. Most children typically begin attending nurseries towards the end of their first year.
For instance, the number of respiratory infections, whether upper or lower, can range from 12 to 15 times a year, with gastrointestinal infections occurring at least twice. Children often experience diarrhea and vomiting sporadically due to the meals provided in these nurseries, without developing severe gastroenteritis. Additionally, nearly all children suffer from one or two infections that cause skin rashes.
Background & Context
The researchers noted that the increased infection rates among parents after their children start nursery are a direct result of heightened exposure to various microbes. However, infections are generally milder in parents than in children due to the maturity of their immune systems, a phenomenon that also occurs in children as they grow.
They stated that the primary reason for the increased frequency of infections and the spread of illnesses in nurseries is that children often return to nursery before fully recovering, exposing less immune-competent children to infections. Therefore, it is crucial for parents to keep their children at home during illness, perhaps for an additional day or two after recovery, depending on the type of infection, to ensure that they do not reintroduce the infection to themselves or infect others.
Impact & Consequences
The study reassured parents by confirming that the situation improves over time, as the rate of respiratory infections decreases with each passing year. Instead of experiencing illnesses approximately monthly, the rate drops to about half (6 times or less), and older children are less likely to contract respiratory viruses at any time, with milder symptoms.
The study emphasized that the reason for repeated infections is not poor hygiene or negligence on the part of nursery caregivers, but rather the immaturity of the child's immune system. The home environment contains fewer microbes, which does not provide the immune system with sufficient opportunities to recognize microbes and learn how to protect itself.
Regional Significance
In the Arab region, where nurseries are an essential part of family life, these findings could significantly influence how parents manage their children's health. This study could help raise awareness among parents about the importance of enhancing their children's immunity through exposure to microbes in a safe environment.
Ultimately, the researchers concluded that children who start nursery at an early age contract more infections between the ages of one and five compared to those who stay at home until school begins. However, once school starts, this pattern reverses, as children who have not previously attended nursery become ill more frequently.