OBJECTIVES. To describe the pattern of infectious diseases among children admitted from a residential child care centre and to identify any unusual clusters of admissions.

DESIGN. Retrospective case review.

SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. All children from a residential child care centre aged over 28 days who were admitted from the Accident and Emergency Department to paediatric wards for infections from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2003.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Demographic data, clinical diagnoses, infectious diseases identified, and incidence and seasonal pattern of various infections.

RESULTS. Of 267 children admitted to the hospital over the 5-year period, 221 had infectious diseases. Respiratory tract infections, viral exanthema, and gastroenteritis were present in 83.7%, 7.2%, and 5.9%, respectively. Among those with a respiratory tract infection, 22.7%, 9.2%, and 8.6% had respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and influenza A or B viruses, respectively. Two unusual clusters of respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus were recognised in late 2003.

CONCLUSION. Children in this residential child care centre were at risk of infectious diseases. Respiratory tract infection is the most common infectious disease in this centre. An outbreak of respiratory tract infection was recognised. Further efforts may be necessary to improve infection control measures in this setting.

Key words: Child care; Disease outbreaks; Infection control; Respiratory syncytial virus infections

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