Mums hardest hit by child illnesses

Thursday 29th March 2012

Mums are more likely to pick up a cough or cold from their sick child, according to a charity survey.

Development charity Sightsavers has commissioned a survey to find out the most common illnesses passed on to parents from their children.

The survey of 1,000 people by nfpSynergy found that the top illnesses passed on were colds, with 79%, coughs 48%, diahorrea and vomiting 35%, head lice 26%, chickenpox 17%, eye infections 12%, and dysentery 3%.

The findings also revealed that 84% of mums had picked up a cold directly from their child, while half have caught a cough and 13% contracted an eye infection.

As a result more than 190 million sick days are taken each year at a cost of more than £17 billion to the UK economy.

The research comes after the charity launched a campaign earlier this month supported by TV presenter Lorraine Kelly to raise funds for its work to prevent and cure blindness in the developing world.

The advertising campaign features five-year-old Talla from the Gambia who suffers from trachoma, a potentially blinding eye infection.

It aims to highlight that illnesses spread from child to mother in developing countries don't just lead to sick days but loss of sight.

Lorraine said: "Imagine if the illness you caught from your child was not only excruciatingly painful but could potentially blind you? This is the tragic truth with trachoma.

"What really struck me when I visited Sightsavers' work in Kenya was how transforming a small amount of money can be. I met mums who were losing their sight and were struggling to support their families, however just £5 can pay for an operation to help treat the disease and save their sight."

For more information visit http://www.sightsavers.org.

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