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
Southall 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina)
The number of notifications received during the year was 40 as compared with 101
for the previous year. This was one of the best years for scarlet fever we have ever had
in the Borough, and the cases tended to be mild in nature, as is instanced by the fact that
only 3 cases were admitted to hospital for isolation and treatment, while 37 were nursed
at home. Another proof of the mildness of the infection is that there were no secondary
cases, i.e. instances in which a second case occurred within three weeks following the
notification of a previous case in a household.
Diphtheria
No cases of diphtheria were notified to the Department.
The following information supplied by the County Medical Officer shows the number of children immunised against diphtheria during the year.
| Number of Children who completed a full course of Primary Immunisation in Southall during the year | Number of Children who were given Secondary or Reinforcing Injection during the year (i.e. having in a previous year received a complete full course) | |||
| Age at Date of Final Injection | ||||
| Under 1 | 1-4 | 5-14 | Total | |
| 406 | 134 | 22 | 562 | 344 |
In the following table is shown the number of children at 31st December, 1955, who had completed a course of immunisation against diphtheria at any time before that date:—
| Age at 31.12.55: | Under 1 | 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | Total under 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number immunised | 117 | 1,872 | 3.646 | 3.217 | 8,852 |
There was a decline in the number of children receiving immunisation against
diphtheria during the year, both primary and secondary. This, however, was partly
offset by the fact that the number of infants immunised under one year of age had risen
by over 30% from 311 in 1954 to 406 in 1955. It will be seen, however, that the total
immunisation state of the youthful population, i.e. children under 15, has fallen slightly,
the figures for the past five years being, respectively, 8,194 for 1951, 8,138 for 1952, 8,872
for 1953, 8,951 for 1954 and 8,852 for 1955. The Registrar-General cannot supply figures
for the number of children age 0-15 living in Southall—but a rough estimate of the
percentage immunised can be obtained by using the 1951 census figure. This indicates
that 76% is likely to be the figure in Southall for protected children, and as this should
not fall below 75%, considered to be the safety margin, the need for an immunisation
campaign appears to be urgent.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
One case of ophthalmia neonatorum was notified during the year, no blindness or eye
complications resulted.
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
The number of new cases notified during the year was 62.
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