Illness during the first five years of life; results of an inquiry in the borough of Luton.

Abstract

(1) Introduction In a previous communication (Grundy, 1949), an interim report was made of the early results (for the period 0-2 years) of an inquiry into the sickness experience of a group of children during the first 5 years of life. The group comprised 1,849 babies* born in Luton during 1945 to women resident in Luton at the time. In the present paper three subjects in particular are examined: (1) the volume of sickness and its broad pattern at different periods during the first 5 years of life; (2) social class differences in sickness experience; (3) hospital admissions.