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Diphtheria antitoxin is available free of charge on application by medical
practitioners. No antitoxin was supplied during 1988.
The Schick Test and Immunisation against Diphtheria.
This work has been carried on since 1922 at the Council's Maternity and
Child Welfare Centre, 10, John Street, on Wednesday afternoons.
Enquiries as to the effect of the testing and inoculation on the individual were
made as a routine. We are able to record that any disturbance caused was
negligible.
The prophylactics used are toxoid antitoxin for children, and toxoid antitoxin
floccules (suspension) for adults.
183 persons attended this clinic during 1938, making a total of 2,995 since
1922.
Of the 183 (144 children and 39 adults) 125 children, nearly all of whom were
under five years, were inoculated without preliminary Schick test.
Schiclc Testing. Nineteen children (mostly over five years) were tested,
of whom—
8 gave a positive reaction to the test.
11 gave a negative reaction.
Thirty-nine adults (over fifteen years) were tested, of whom—
20 gave a positive reaction to the test.
19 gave a negative reaction.
Immunisation. One hundred and fifty-three persons (133 children and 20
adults) received inoculation. Of these, 123 completed the routine course, while
20 (14 children and 6 adults) failed to complete.
Re-Sehick Testing. Seventy-three persons (62 children and 11 adults) were
tested two months or more after completion of the course. These included 11
who attended prior to 1938.
All the children gave a negative reaction to retest, but three of the adults
were positive and received further inoculations.
Diphtheria among Immunised Children.
There was no case of diphtheria among immunised children in 1938. One
child was removed to a London County Council hospital suspected as suffering
from diphtheria, but the diagnosis in this case was not confirmed.