Got Kids? Got Coughs. Viruses Thrive in Big Families

It’s no secret that kids get sick- a lot, but a study led by faculty at the University of Utah School of Medicine shows that they are also a source of viral infections for the rest of the family. People in childless households were infected with viruses that cause cold and flu for 3-4 weeks during the year. By contrast, families with six children were infected for up to 45 weeks – 87 percent of the year. Dr. Carrie Byington, professor of pediatrics and co-director of the Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science talks about the findings and what they mean for families and physicians. The results were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Learn More about the study.