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
St Pancras 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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120
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
This disease is an inflammation of the eyes of newly born infants, resulting in a purulent
discharge within 21 days of birth. It has been Compulsorily notifiable in London since 1911.
During the first few years the incidence averaged about 5 cases per 1.000 births in St. Pancras
Borough. By 1920 the incidence had reached 11, and this remained the approximate figure for several years.
| Cases | Vision not Impaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | Deaths. | Incidence Rate per 1,000 Births. | District Nurse in Attendance provided by Borough Council. | Cases treated in Special Hospital provided by L.C.C. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treated | ||||||||||
| Notified. | At Home. | In Hospital. | ||||||||
| 1936 | 32a | 15 | 16 | 2 6 B | l | — | 3c | 13.4 | 7 | 11 |
| 1935 | 23* | 11 | 12 | 21¶ | — | — | — | 9.3 | 7 | 10 |
| 1934 | 33 | 17 | 16 | 31 | — | — | 2g | 13.5 | 14 | 15 |
| 1933 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 40$ | — | — | 2¶ | 16.2 | 14 | 19 |
| 1932 | 74 | 56 | 18 | 73 | — | — | 1¶ | 27.6 | 30 | 15 |
| 1931 | 45 | 26 | 19 | 43† | — | — | _ | 15.2 | 18 | 14 |
| 1930 | 31 ‡ | 23 | 30 | — | — | 1* | 9.1 | 17 | 6 | |
| 1929 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 34 | 1 | — | 1* | 11.4 | 11 | 12 |
| 1928 | 32 | 24 | 8 | 32 | — | — | — | 9.8 | 12 | 6 |
•Due to other causos. I Several cases removed to unknown addresses. X Excluding one case, information unobtainable.
|| Died from Prematurity, Congenital Heart Disease and Gonorrhœal Ophthalmia.
§ One moved away to unknown address.
(1) Died—Prematurity. Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
(2) Died—Gastro Enteritis. Ophthalmia N eona to rum, Mongolism, Imbecility.
g (T Died—Acute Bronchitis (before eyes had recovered),
(2) Died—Prematurity. Ophthalmia Neonatorum. Gonococcal infection.
* Excluding one case brought to notice other than by notification. Three cases who moved and were not traced before complete
recovery are not included.
a Including one case which came to notice after death. b One moved—unable to trace c One Prematurity, Gonorrhoea ;
one prematurity ; one prematurity, Gonorrhoea, Ophthalmia Neonatorum, Jaundice of the Newborn.
In addition to the above, there were 30 cases of Mild Inflammation not notifiable as
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Out of the 32 notifications this year, five were considered " grave" ten were of
" moderate " severity, and seventeen were returned as " slight."
A purulent discharge from the eyes of an infant occurring within the specified period
given above is required to be notified irrespective of the cause of this condition. Ophthalmia
Neonatorum therefore is not necessarily due to a Gonococcal infection.
The purpose of this regulation is to prevent the possibility of delay in the treatment of
gonorrheal conjunctivitis. This most serious condition is responsible for a high proportion of
cases of blindness and is due to infection from the mother.
Amongst the preventive measures to be taken ante-natal examination and treatment
of the mother should be included. This attention was given in all but two cases.
Post-natal [care should be continued in these cases until the mother is free from
infection.
For particulars of visits paid in respect of this condition see Table IV.