More than half the cases of diarrhea and colds that afflict youngsters in daycare centers could be avoided through better hygiene and more fresh air. That's the conclusion of a study by Dr. Julio Soto and his colleagues at Montreal's St. Luc Hospital, described in the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Pediatrics.

Soto said that by applying stricter hygiene in daycare centers, the number of colds was reduced by 54 % and there was 72% drop in cases of diarrhea.

"We didn't look for overly sophisticated methods," Soto said, adding that people often neglect basic measures, such as washing their hands after going to the bathroom.

He said air quality in day care centers is important, but there's a tendency to close all windows during winter and to neglect the ventilation of rooms used by children. Respiratory aliments - such as pharyngitis, rhinitis and sinusitis - are a particular problem for kids under 3 who haven't built up a sufficient immune system.

On another level of infection, there are intestinal diseases such as diarrhea. Finally, there are aliment like impetigo, chicken pox, skin infections and warts. Very young children are more likely to catch diseases if they go to daycare centers than if they stay home. But by the age of 3, the risks for both are roughly equal.

Contamination can occur through saliva, urine or excrement that might come into contact with a toy or other object. The study also found more cases of diarrhea when there are children in diapers at daycare centers. Among those under 3, diarrhea hits more boys than girls.

The best method of prevention is proper washing of hands. For the study, a fluorescent lamp was used to check the cleanliness of hands and the biggest improvement in hand-washing, between 1989 and 1991, was noticed among children aged 4 or over.

CANADIAN PRESS