Management of communicable diseases in day care centers.

In this article, we have focused on specific communicable diseases in day care centers, and have provided guidelines for prevention and control of outbreaks, and management of contacts. Given the growing number of working mothers in the United States and the related increase in child care outside the home, it is inevitable that physicians caring for children will encounter illnesses acquired in the day care setting. Only by understanding the unique epidemiologic characteristics of day care centers will practitioners be able to recognize potential outbreaks and help prevent the further spread of communicable diseases.