Researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine found that viruses thrive in big families in 'The Big LoVE" study, published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.
Utah has the largest number of children per household, so researchers studied one community, tracking 28 households of 108 individuals. Nasal swabs were collected to test various viruses.
Here are five things to know:
1. Researchers concluded that the bigger the family, the more prone each family member is to viruses that cause colds, flu and respiratory illnesses.
2. Childless households were infected with viruses about three to four weeks of the year; one-child households experienced viruses for 18 weeks of the year; six-child households were infected up to 45 weeks of the year.
3. The study found big families experience viral infections for 87 percent of the year. However, only half of the viruses result in illnesses.
4. The study pinpointed children as the family members most prone to infection. This study is the first to track how often kids and their family members get sick using modern diagnostics.
5. Researchers were most surprised by how many viruses did not manifest into illnesses.
