The control of infections in child-care centres involves vaccination of children and staff, attention to hygiene (particularly to handwashing), exclusion of children (and employees) while infectious and/or grouping of infectious children, separation of toilet-trained children from those in nappies, and judicious use of antimicrobial agents and vaccination during outbreaks. By reporting cases of infectious diseases in patients with child-care contact to public health authorities, doctors can assist in controlling such diseases in child care.