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Scarlet Fever.
During the year 840 cases of scarlet fever were notified as
compared with 927 in 1925. 785 cases were removed to the
Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals. Of these cases 29 were
returned from hospital certified as not suffering from scarlet fever.
As in recent years the cases were mild in nature.
37 secondary cases were notified. A secondary case is one
occurring in the same household as the primary case.
There were 5 deaths from this disease during the year. The
"return" cases numbered 16. A "return" case may be defined
as one which occurs within 28 days after the release of the
original case from isolation. The same procedure is carried out
as in diphtheria to avoid the possibility of such cases occurring.
Scarlet fever in England at the present day is a trivial disease
and the mortality is slight, but unfortunately the incidence is as
high as it has ever been. Experience has proved that institutional
treatment is unnecessary for a large percentage of scarlet fever
patients so far as the illness is concerned. On the other hand,
measles has a far heavier fatality.
The relative importance of institutional treatment for scarlet
fever and measles cases has been the subject of consideration, and
in October last year the Metropolitan Asylums Board decided to
allocate beds in their institutions to the two diseases, in relation
to the required accommodation for each, so that in times of
measles prevalence more beds will be available for the treatment
of this disease.
In the event of the allocated provision not being sufficient to
cope with the number of cases desiring to be admitted, the
selection of cases will then be made by the Medical Officer of
Health in accordance with the necessities and home conditions
of the individual case.
Dick Test.—As yet no steps have been taken in Camberwell
to make use of the Dick test or to provide facilities for conferring
immunity to those found to be susceptible to this disease.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers.
14 cases were notified during the year, and of these 12 were
removed to hospitals. There were no deaths. 5 of the notified
cases were afterwards certified not to be suffering from enteric
fever. The source of infection was not traced in any case.
Pneumonia.
During the year 166 notifications were received, of which
62 were influenzal and 104 acute primary pneumonia.