Children in day care, especially infants and toddlers , are at increased risk for acquiring and spreading infectious diseases, compared to children not in day care. They have more respiratory, gastro-intestinal, skin and epidemic childhood infections, e.g., meningitis, than are children in home care. Infectious diseases are more common and more severe and more complications occur in the younger ages. Important also is the fact that day care-related illnesses, e.g., hepatitis A, may be spread to members of the household and to the community at large.
Reed Bell, M.D., “Health Risks From Daycare Diseases," cited by Gregg Jackson, Conservative Comebacks to Liberal Lies, p.160