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Limb Deformities
The main limb deformities, sustaining its rate of 6.24 per 1,000
total notified births, were congenital dislocation of the hip and
talipes, conditions which can usually be completely cured especially
when given expert treatment from birth. Such treatment is immediately
available to all babies born in this country. Every infant
attending the Child Health Clinics is examined by the doctor for
congenital dislocation of the hip which, unlike talipes, is not always
immediately recognised on neo-natal examination but, when
detected and treated at an early age, causes no locomotor problems
when the child begins to crawl and walk.
Anencephaly—Of all the malformations recorded, most research
has been carried out in respect of anencephaly perhaps because this
is a condition which is easily and reliably identified. Statistics with
regard to this defect, therefore, tend to reflect the true position.
In Greenwich, the 1970 rate for 1,000 total notified births was
0.94 compared with a figure of 2.71 for the previous year.
Mongolism (Down's Syndrome)—This is another reasonably
easily identified defect with a local rate for 1970 of 0.93 per 1,000
total births. The rate for 1969 was 1.50.
Rubella Vaccination
Congenital defects arising as a result of an attack of rubella
during the first trimester of pregnancy are well known. On an
average, one in every six children born in these circumstances is
likely to suffer from such defects.