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Scabies and Lice.—The arrangements set out in the Annual
Report for 1945 for the treatment of patients suffering from scabies
and vermin infestation remain unaltered, except that the appointment
of two Health Assistants in the School Health Service has allowed
us to cope much more adequately with infestation among school
children. Generally speaking, disinfestation and treatment of
scabies occurring among school children is dealt with at the appropriate
minor ailment clinic. Severe and recurring cases, of which
not many are reported, are sent to the Hornsey Disinfestation Centre
for treatment. Adults suffering from scabies are mostly treated in
their own homes; cases of infestation among adults are sent to the
Hornsey Disinfestation Centre. Twenty-five patients were so
treated during the year.
The problems of lice infestation and scabies are not acute in
Southgate. Figures showing the percentage infestation of adults are
not available, but the number of children infested either with live
lice or with nits is extremely low. Two schools only (DeBohun and
Oakwood) show a percentage infestation higher than 5%. Even in
these cases individual infestation was almost invariably mild and,
except in a very few instances, yielded rapidly to treatment.
A few families in which infestation among the children occurred
—not more than 12 in number—were found to be completely uncooperative.
As all these families are residents on the Council Housing
Estate, steps have been taken to report their non-co-operation to
the Housing Management Committee with a view to action being
taken in cases where lack of co-operation continues.
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