title: [Hand-hygiene and sickness among small children attending day care centers. An intervention study].
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of intensified hygiene with frequent handwashing and several educational procedures in day-care centres. The study was conducted as a controlled trial, with an intervention group and an observation group. There was a 34% reduction in expected sickness in children in the intervention group. In the categories diarrhoea and eye-infection there was a significant drop in sickness. We conclude that broad intervention concerning hand-hygiene has a positive effect on sickness in children attending day-care centres.
authors.affiliation: Odense Kommune, Børne-Ungeforvaltningen.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ladegaard
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stage
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires