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
Hendon 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]
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31.
DIPHTHERIA.
Of 56 cases sent into Hospital with a diagnosis of diphtheria or
suspected diphtheria, the existence of true diphtheria was confirmed in
only 8 instances. One of these - an infant of 15 months - suffering
from the laryngeal form of the disease, died within an hour of admission
after tracheotomy had been performed. The remaining 7 cases recovered
and were discharged after average stay in Hospital of 52 days. One of
them exhibited symptoms of laryngeal obstruction which subsided without
resort to tracheotomy.
Comparison of incidence and case mortality rate with that of the previous two years is shown below:-
| 2. Cases found to "be suffering from diphtheria on admission (excluding diphtheria "carriers".) | 24 | 9 | 8 |
| 3. Deaths due to diphtheria | 1 | - | 1 |
| 4. Case mortality rate (calculated on number of cases of true diphtheria) | 4.2% | — | 12.5% |
SCARLET FEVER.
The type of scarlet fever remained mild during 1945, with decreased
incidence as compared with the previous year. 156 cases with a diagnosis
of scarlet fever were admitted and 151 discharged, the diagnosis being
confirmed in 146 ceses. Avcrrge duration of stay of the completed cases
was 33.3 days.
Comparison of incidence, etc., with that of the previous two years is shown below:-
| 1943. | 1944. | 1945. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, Cases discharged or died, notified as Scarlet Fever or ? Scarlet Fever | 324 | ||
| 2. Cases found to be suffering from Scarlet Fever on admission (including dual infections) | |||
| 3. Deaths due to Scarlet Fever | - | 1 X | - |
| 4. Case mortality rate | Nil | Nil. |
This case died of ruptured aortic aneurism, unconnected with Scarlet Fever,