View report page

Infestation is now a minor problem and the school nursing
service is to be congratulated for its efforts over a long
period of time to teach children and their parents the need for
cleanliness. The small reservoir of infestation which remains
creates social and legal problems but it is doubtful whether the
mass inspection of all schoolchildren for cleanliness is necessary
in modern conditions. Despite its emotional overtones, infestation
can and does occur in the best regulated households since,
like all infectious disease, it has no respect for persons. It
is difficult, therefore, to define any group of children who are
free from risk and who may be excluded from inspection. Clearly
attention must be focused upon those schools in which cases do
still occur but in the remainder an annual epidemiological
survey is probably sufficient so that some index of infestation
in the Borough as a whole may be obtained. Such a survey could
be carried out in conjunction with the intermediate medical
inspections at eight years and eleven years, and it is hoped
that a revised scheme may be introduced during 1966.
Defects of the Skin
Significant outbreaks of plantar warts (verrucae) appeared in
various parts of the Borough during the year. It was necessary
to establish a clinic in the Purley area to provide treatment
but large numbers of cases were treated in all clinics and
especially at New Addington. A teacher at Fairchildes Secondary
School carried out an epidemiological survey of the boys suffering
from plantar warts in that school and he was able to show
a significant association with showers at school and also
attendance at the local swimming baths. Unfortunately it was not
possible to differentiate between the two factors since most of
the boys took part in both. The exclusion of any child thought
to be suffering from a plantar wart from all forms of barefoot
activity in school and elsewhere, is the minimum requirement for
arresting the spread of this troublesome condition. Treatment is
usually prolonged and preventive measures are obviously preferred.