AAP News Vol. 13 No. 5 May 1997, p. 2
© 1997 American Academy of Pediatrics
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Aringa, S. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Handwashing

Stefanie Dell' Aringa

Teaching children to frequently wash their hands reduces the spread of infectious diseases at child care centers, and pediatricians should implement children's handwashing programs in pediatric hospitals and clinics, according to a 21-week study.

Researchers cited previous studies showing that children's frequent hand-to-mouth and person-to-person contact, spread of respiratory secretions, and immature immune systems all increase the risk of infection, and children in child care settings are 18 times more likely to contract pathogens than those who stay at home.