Pneumococcal carriage in children during their first two years: important role of family exposure

Abstract

Young infants (< or =6 months old) were largely protected from pneumococcal carriage. After this age family transmission seemed very important despite the small family size. Contrary to some earlier studies communal day care was not associated with an increased risk of Pnc carriage. This could be partly because of the long parental leave in Finland and thus the late age of starting organized day care.