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77
Whooping Cough
The number of cases of whooping cough notifications received
was only 25, a decrease of 95 compared with the previous year's
total.
Two cases were admitted to hospital. No deaths were recorded.
With regard to prophylaxis, one child received a combined
antigen (whooping cough and diphtheria) and a further 2,900
received a triple antigen (whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus)
giving a final total of 2,901 whooping cough immunisations carried
out during the current year. Of these, 353 were effected by local
general practitioners who were also responsible for giving 342
reinforcing doses out of a total of 2,214.
Diphtheria
No case was registered for the year under review, a result similar
to that of the previous year.
During the year 3,252 primary immunisations were completed
in the Borough of which 385 were effected by general practitioners.
Most diphtheria immunisations which are given form part of a
combined antigen therapy and, in addition to these primary treatments, some 6,317 reinforcing doses were given, 570 of which were
carried out by local doctors.
Antitoxin.—Since January, 1949, arrangements have been made
for a small stock of diphtheria antitoxin to be held at Greenwich
District Hospital for use by general practitioners in emergencies.
Typhoid
One case of typhoid was received. This was the first notification
of the disease received since 1966, when, as in this instance, it was
the sole notification.
The patient recovered from the disease following admittance into
hospital for treatment.
Dysentery
This disease is usually characterised by diarrhoea, fever and,
to a lesser extent, vomiting. Although modern methods of treatment are effective and usually rapid, nevertheless the disease has
become a serious nuisance and difficult to control. It is normally
mild but in infants, young children and the very old it can produce
serious illness and debility, especially if the patients are already
slightly below normal health. In adults it is an irksome inconvenience and, if they work in the food trade, it can cause economic
hardship.