Daycare: Is Sharing Caring?

Over the last few months, our kids have been hit hard by viral respiratory illnesses. It hasn’t been just one virus, but multiple viruses that have inflicted widespread coughing, congestion, fever, runny nose, and other symptoms. Given the rise in the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 in the pediatric population, the term, tridemic or tripledemic has been used for the onslaught of symptomatic viral respiratory illnesses that have plagued our children. It has been a viral respiratory season to remember for most medical personnel.

Most medical personnel would be hard-pressed to remember a worse viral respiratory infection season than this last winter. Nevertheless, amongst pediatricians, there is somewhat of a known predictability of when kids get sick. Pediatricians are keenly aware of the risk factors for the transmission of viral illnesses among children with one of the greatest risk factors being kids congregating together. Pediatricians can predict when there will be an uptick in viral infections by when school starts. Also, for younger children, daycare attendance is a major culprit for the spread of infections, especially viral illnesses.

Daycares are a necessary evil when it comes to the case of childcare. Daycares provide important supervision of children when parents are working or need to tend to other responsibilities. They also offer a source of early childhood learning and socialization. Daycares are a crucial service for many families. However, the congregation of young children in daycare settings creates an environment where viruses and other infections spread with astonishing ease. The terms “daycare” and “sick kids” are synonymous in the pediatric community. If a child goes to daycare, it isn’t a matter if they are sick…it is just a matter of which infection they are sick with!

Daycares are notorious for having young kids with runny noses and coughing almost continuously. It is the rare child that actually doesn’t have any symptoms of illness at daycare. Also, it is not uncommon for multiple viruses to be circulating in any daycare at the same time. Parents routinely bring children into the clinic to be examined because of exposure to croup, hand/foot/mouth disease, RSV, strep throat, impetigo, and a number of other illnesses found in the daycare setting. Also, a familiar story from parents is that ever since their child started daycare, their child has been sick much more frequently to the point where parents feel that there is something terribly wrong with their child’s health.

Some parents have a feeling of guilt because they take their children to daycare and their kids get sick because of it. However, there is nothing to feel guilty about. Daycares are not inherently bad. They are actually amazing resources for our community. But, because of how childhood illnesses are transmitted, daycares are the perfect settings to perpetuate contagious illnesses. Once families understand the risks and illness patterns of daycares, they should not feel bad. They just need to understand that it is normal for their child to get sick more frequently and that following up with their pediatrician is warranted if they are concerned about their child’s health.

Is your child in daycare?

What is your experience with illnesses from daycare?

Do you feel like your child has been sick with something for most of the last few months?