Children in daycare at increased risk for allergy symptoms
Children between the ages of 1 and 6 who are in daycare are up to 56% more likely to exhibit symptoms of allergies. They also are 2.5 times more likely to have more colds. The cold part I can understand, but I must say I’m a bit perplexed why daycare would make a difference in allergies.
I know my oldest son, who is the only one of mine who was in daycare, was also my sickest child. Of course, I attribute that to other factors, in addition to being in daycare.
Just a thought, most daycares require children to be vaccinated, right? So I’m guessing that the percentage of fully vaxed children in daycare is pretty high, compared to the population of children not in daycare, some of whom will not get “caught up” until just prior to being enrolled in preschool or kindergarten, etc. (and I’m leaving out the percentage of the population who are homeschooled or take exemptions, but you see the point).
Or perhaps there are just more allergen-triggers in the daycare environment.
Comment by ebaumann — May 5, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Actually, that’s some of the “other factors” that I attributed my son’s illnesses to. I also wonder if the general drain on the immune system from more illnesses could figure in.
Comment by jmanty — May 8, 2006 @ 5:49 am