HEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE TYPE-B DISEASE - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DAY-CARE-CENTERS

Day-care centers are a relatively new phenomena of American society that bring together large numbers of young children susceptible to contagious disease. The incidence and risk factors of endemic H. influenzae type b disease was examined both in the general population and in day-care attendees in Monroe County, New York [USA], for 1982 and 1983. The attack rate in the general population (excluding day-care attendees) was highest in children younger than 1 yr (131.9 cases/100,000 per yr) and in those 1-2 yr old (75.7 cases/100,000 per yr) compared with older children. The relative risk for day-care attendees was much greater than that of the general population. It was 12.3 times greater for children < 1 yr, 7.2 times greater for those 1-2 yr, and 3.8 times greater for those 2-3 yr old. Children attending day-care facilities face a substantial increased risk of contracting invasive H. influenzae type b disease. Efforts to prevent susceptibility and contagious spread of this disease in this population seem necessary.