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PUERPERAL PYREXIA
Puerperal Pyrexia means any febrile condition in a woman in whom a
temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Centigrade) or more has occurred
within fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage.
Sixty-three cases were notified during the year, of which only one
case occurred at home, the remainder being in hospital. Forty-eight of
the hospital notifications referred to patients residing outside the
Borough.
The Puerperal Pyrexia (Amendment) Regulations, 1954, which came into
operation on the 1st March last year prescribed a form of certificate
for the notification of cases of puerperal pyrexia by medical
practitioners. The new form requires the cause of the disease, if known,
to be stated.
Herewith is a brief summary of the actual causes in the above cases.
5 cases were due to genital tract infection, 17 to breast involvement,
1 associated with Phlebitis, 17 urinary tract infection, 1 respiratory
tract infection, 1 bowel infection, 1 associated with Caesarean section
and causes not known 20.
Eight other cases were brought to the notice of this Department by
other local authorities; these concerned Chelsea residents whose
confinements took place in hospitals situated in their areas.
WHOOPING COUGH
Seventy-two cases were notified during the year against 85 in 1955.
SCARLET FEVER
Thirty-eight notifications of Scarlet Fever were received in the
Public Health Department during 1956, as compared with 43 in 1955.