London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Camberwell 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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82
diphtheria. In the event of your being ill in the future and the
doctor suspects you to be suffering from diphtheria, kindly
draw his attention to this certificate, in order that he may
acquaint the Medical Officer of Health or the Bacteriologist of
the Borough in which you reside (without delay).
For those persons found to be naturally immune a similar
certificate is issued except that the words "and immunised"
are deleted.
Three cases of diphtheria were notified among children who had been immunised, viz. children who had received injections and were subsequently tested and found to be "Schick" negative.
| Sex. | Age. | Treatment. | Diagnosis. |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. | 7 | Re-Schick test negative in 1935 (in Lambeth). | Not severe attack + swabs. |
| M. | 7 | Re-Schick test negative in 1936. | Mild Diphtheria + swabs. |
| M. | 4 | Re-Schick test negative in 1936. | Modified Diphtheria. Only 1 +swab. Subsequently considered severe streptococcal tonsillitis. |
The total attendances at the Council's Diphtheria Immunisation
Clinic in 1937 was 2,061. A table recording the number of
persons in age groups who attended to receive the Schick Test and
immunisation treatment appears on pages 80 and 81.
Scarlet Fever.
It is generally accepted that the disease known as scarlet fever
is due to the invasion of the body by certain types of germs known
as streptococcus pyogenes. This infection usually gives rise to a
tonsillitis and a characteristic rash.
In certain instances the same causal agent produces an acute
pharyngitis or tonsillitis without the presence of a rash. Cases of
this nature should be regarded as infectious as those with an erythema,
necessitating strict precautions and isolation to prevent them
from being a focus for the spread of scarlatinal infection.
In 1937 there Were 424 notifications of scarlet fever received as
compared with 722 in 1936. The number of patients removed to
isolation hospitals for treatment was 364, and the cases effectively
isolated and treated at home numbered 60. There were 23 instances
of patients who were subsequently diagnosed as not suffering
from the disease as certified. There were 22 instances in which
multiple cases occurred in the household. The number of "Return"
cases was eight.
Scarlet fever to-day is a mild disease and causes few deaths.
The fatal cases numbered two, representing a fatality rate of 0.49 per
cent, as compared with 0.28 per cent, in 1936.