Nurseries in Northumberland and Newcastle are taking part

Newcastle General Hospital will investigate how bugs picked up by youngsters in day care centres can affect others in the family.

It is the first study of its kind in the UK.

Two nurseries will be at the centre of the research into how many chest infections are caught by children and the knock-on effects among parents, siblings, grandparents and others in the family home.

Dr Nicol Black, a public health expert at Newcastle General Hospital, predicted the study could result in routine vaccinations for children against the pneumo bug - which can lead to pneumonia as well as ear and chest infections.

The intent is not to alarm parents, but to ensure that their children and others are adequately protected Dr Nicol Black

The research is being carried out at the private day care nursery in Gosforth, Newcastle and the Swiftdale nursery in Bedlington, Northumberland.

Dr Black said: "Day-care is a necessity for many parents, and most people accept that the increased risk of coughs, colds and other minor illnesses affecting children in communal environments is an unfortunate, but unavoidable fact of life.

"But those with infection who are in day-care are only the tip of the iceberg.

"We also need to know how much disease transmission takes place from the nursery back to the family home.

Possible wider investigation

During the study, parents of children attending day nurseries will be asked to fill in questionnaires giving details of the reasons for their children's sickness absence.

The results will be assessed to help measure the real cost of infection in day-care and to set a baseline for monitoring the effectiveness of prevention initiatives, such as vaccination, in the future.

Dr Black said: "While most of the diseases we're measuring are relatively minor, being in day-care is known to be a risk factor for some serious conditions, such as pneumococcal infection, which is responsible for the deaths of around 50 under 5s in the UK each year.

Day care and nurseries are an essential and very important part of many families' livesquote here Dr Nicol Black

"For this reason, other countries, notably the US and France, routinely recommend vaccination against the pneumo bug for children in day-care.

"But this is not currently the case in the UK and Ireland."

"Our study paves the way for a larger investigation of between 50 and 100 day-care centres in north-east England this autumn which may provide evidence to change this situation.

"We completely understand that day care and nurseries are an essential and very important part of many families' lives.

"The intent is not to alarm parents, but to ensure that their children and others in the family home, are adequately protected from infections."

The study has been welcomed by the national group, RAPPID (Raising Awareness of Paediatric Pneumococcal Infection and Disease), which has campaigned over the last year for the government to introduce routine pneumococcal vaccination for infants and young children.