When parents bring their sick children to see their doctor or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioner, they spend time in the waiting rooms playing with toys. Many of these children have infectious disease, which can easily be transmitted to another child when they play with these toys at a later time. As parents we are concerned about the welfare of our kids and we should be aware of the potential of cross-infections from toys in public areas and should warn our kids not to put toys in their mouth. A poignant research study by Merriman et al in the February 2002 edition of British Journal of General Practice highlighted this issue.
They revealed that the toys in waiting rooms of GP surgeries are a potential source of cross-infection i.e.
Hard toys – low levels of contamination
Soft toys – 20% moderate to heavy coliform contamination
90% heavy bacterial contamination
Some Australian GP centres have now acted and removed children’s toys from their waiting rooms. Perhaps it is time that other GP clinics and Complementary and Alternative Medicine practices also follow suit. This also brings into question that improved guidelines regarding cleaning of toys in childcare centres needs to be reviewed.
This prevent cross-contamination due to toys, regular daily cleaning is required at the very least not only in GP surgeries, but also in childcare centres, family day care, OSHC centres and other educational centres.
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