Hygienic practices and acute respiratory illness in family and group day-care homes.

A study of hygienic practices and the prevalence of respiratory illness in children attending day-care homes. Never or rarely washing hands by both children and carers was associated with a higher frequency of respiratory illness in both family and group day-care homes. Using shared cloth towels rather than individual paper towels and washing sleeping mats less than once a week were also associated with a higher frequency of respiratory illness. Public Health Reports 1998;113:544-551.