View report page

WHOOPING COUGH:- One hundred and fifty-seven cases were
notified, compared with one hundred and forty-nine cases in 1947.
Fifteen of the cases were from an institution. The case rate
was 1.93 per 1000 of population, compared with 3,42 per 1000 of
population for England and Wales, Seven cases were admitted to
hospital. There was no death.
Whooping Cough is a prolonged and debilitating illness
liable to complication by Pneumonia and Bronchitis with subsequent
impairment of the function of the lungs. Every effort should be
made to protect babies and young children from infection until
they are old enough to withstand the stresses of the disease.
Progress is being made in research aimed at finding a specific
drug for the cure of the disease, and the value of vaccines for
immunisation is being estimated, but until a specific drug or a
completely effective vaccine are available, the main prospect
of prevention lies in the early isolation of suspected cases.
The early catarrhal stage of Whooping Cough resembles a persistent
catarrhal cold. There is a harsh cough which is at first single,
and later groupod. Finally tho cough is paroxysmal with a
terminal 'whoop'. In infants the illness may be confined to the
catarrhal stage. There may be no 'whoop'. Vomiting after
coughing is very suggestive of Whooping Cough, Any suspicion
of the disease demands precautions against the spread of infection.
Suspected cases should not be allowed by their parents to mix with
other children, nor allowed to travel on buses, or visit shopping
centres and places of public resort. In cases of doubt, medical
advice should be sought beforo a child is given liberty of action,
and in severe cases early medical advice will prevent complications.
Information of notifications of children under five years
of age is sent to all Health Visitors in order that advice and help
may be given where necossary. A leaflet of advice is sent to the
home of every notified case.

IMMUNISATION AGAINST WHOOPING COUGH:- The scheme of immunisation
against Whooping Cough is restricted to children between the ages
of 1 year and 5 years, to weakly children, and to children from
overcrowded homes.
During 1948, two hundred and seventy-one children
received a course of injections, making a total of six hundred and
eighty-three children immunised since 1945, During 1948, fifteen
of this group contracted Whooping Cough, at intervals of time
varying from three months to three years from the time of
injection. Of these, two had severe attacks, six had moderate
attacks, and seven had slight attacks. Normally there is wide
variation in the severity of Whooping Cough which makes it
difficult to assess the value of ameliorative immunisation. In
some cases there was alteration in the character of the 'whoop'
and reduction in the severity of the cough, which might bo
attributable to the vaccine. There was no indication of
reduction of incidence of the disease in the immunised group.
The hope of even slight ameliorative effect justifies perseverance,
(29)