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POST-INFECTIOUS DISEASE CLINIC.
In my last Annual Report reference was made to a scheme
which had then just begun for the examination of children who
had suffered from an attack of infectious disease. The scheme has
now been in operation for a full year, and it is of interest to scrutinise
the results of the year's work. During the year all cases of
scarlet fever, diphtheria, acute primary and acute influenzal
pneumonia, measles and whooping cough occurring in children of
and below school age have been dealt with under this scheme.
Three months after the date of notification the health visitor has
visited the home of the patient. If the child appeared to have
recovered completely from the illness, no further action was
taken. If on the other hand, the child had not completely
recovered, and was not under the supervision of a general practitioner
or attending hospital, then the health visitor has made
arrangements, with the consent of the parents, for the child to be
examined either at the Post-Infectious Disease Clinic held at the
Public Health Centre or at an Infant Welfare Clinic if the child
was under five.
The period of three months, which is only approximate, is
allowed to elapse so that any 'complications' following the
attack may be distinguished from the ill-effects of the actual
disease itself. The total number of cases referred to the health
visitors was 1,120 and altogether 1,470 visits were paid to the
homes of these patients.
Action Taken
Scarlet
Fever
Diphtheria
Whooping
Cough
Totals
Measles
Acute
Influenzal
Pneumonia
Acute
Primary
Pneumonia
Number of cases referred to
the Health Visitors
655
86
156
64
1,120
155
4
Number of primary examinations
at Post-Infectious
Disease Clinic
39
31
11
148
64
3
-
Number of re-examinations
at Post-Infectious Disease
Clinic
1
-
111
27
18
-
65
Number of examinations at
Infant Welfare Clinics
20
8
59
-
91
4
-
Number of patients found to
be suffering from defects
29
86
-
23
158
19
1
Percentage defective of total
number of cases referred to
the Health Visitors
26.7
18.7
1.5
12.1
14.2
13.1
-