RESUMO
Given the increasing frequency of acute respiratory infections in day care centers, the objective of this work was to identify knowledge and practices of day care center workers relative to the prevention, precocious detection and management of these illnesses. Through fourteen structured interviews in two university day care centers of the city of São Paulo, it was verified that the workers: demonstrate familiarity with several respiratory illnesses; indicate fever and noisy breath as danger signals; consider pollution and transmission as main causes; refer to environment care as the best form of control; keep continuous observation of the child and interventions of hygiene and comfort, and greater emotional care; consider education and care complementary in child attendance, revealing the need for better preparation for caring; have in daily activities the source of their knowledge.