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
Croydon 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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36
SCARLET FEVER.
The total number of Scarlet Fever cases admitted during
the year was 770, an increase of 321 on 1942. The type of
disease admitted during the year was of moderate severity.
Of the 770 cases, 20 were not cases of Scarlet Fever, leaving
a total of 750 cases of true Scarlet Fever.
The following complications and sequelae occurred amongst the true Scarlet Fever cases:—
| Serum Cases. | Non-Serum Cases. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 165 | 585 | 750 |
| Albuminuria | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Adenitis | 5 | 20 | 25 |
| Otorrhoea | 1 | 14 | 15 |
| Rhinorrhoea | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Relapse | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Rheumatism | — | 3 | 3 |
| Jaundioe | — | 1 | 1 |
| Nephritis | — | 3 | 3 |
The average stay in hospital for serum cases was 29 days
and for non-serum cases 29.5 days.
One death occurred amongst the Scarlet Fever cases due to
general septicemia.
The number of complications amongst the 585 non-serum
cases was 50, whereas amongst the 165 serum cases it was 11.
The disease was prevalent throughout the year with a marked
rise during the last quarter of the year.
Both M.B. 693 and M.B. 760 proved useful, particularly in
clearing up otorrhoea due to streptococcal and staphylococcal
infection respectvely.