Sending a child to daycare may help build their immunity, but it also often means dealing with frequent illnesses.
Researchers have found that attending daycare can accelerate the development of a child’s immune system. A new study, published on March 18 in Clinical Microbiology Reviews, shows that children in daycare are exposed to a higher number of pathogens, including viruses, which increases both their likelihood of experiencing symptoms and spreading those pathogens to others.
According to researchers Lucy van Dorp and Charlotte Houldcroft, writing in The Conversation, this early exposure is a natural process that strengthens immunity.
Frequent Illnesses are Common
Children experience roughly twice as many episodes of diarrhea and vomiting annually compared to adults, averaging two incidents per year. Having a child under five years old in the household increases an adult’s risk of experiencing diarrhea and vomiting by three to five times, the researchers warn.
By 12 months of age, 70% of children attending daycare have developed antibodies against two common viruses (HHV6A and 6B). This finding suggests that daycare attendance plays a significant role in early immune system development. The increased exposure to pathogens can lead to more frequent illnesses initially, but ultimately contributes to a more robust immune response.
