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26
Fatality Rates per 1,000
notifications each age group
(1940-1946)
Percentage of notifications
(1940-1946)
0—1
1—5
5 & upwards
0—1
1—5
5 & upwards
Measles
19.10
1.86
0.27
6.3
53.2
40.5
Whooping
Cough
90.17
8.36
–
13.8
62.0
24.2
It will be noted that the highest fatality rate in both measles and whooping
cough occurs in children under the age of one. In children with whooping cough
under one, very nearly one case in ten proves fatal and this rate is approximately
4½ times the corresponding rate for measles. Both whooping cough and measles
become much less dangerous after the age of one although the largest percentage
of cases (62 per cent. in case of whooping cough and 53.2 per cent. in case of measles)
occurs in children between 1-5 years. Whilst, therefore, it is very important that
children of all ages should avoid all possible contact with other children who may be
suffering from either of these diseases as far as is practicable, it is most important to
avoid whooping cough for infants under 12 months. Where there are older children
in the family, and particularly under circumstances where there is overcrowding, it is
difficult to avoid contact if there is also an infant brother or sister. The longer it is
possible to delay exposure to whooping cough the less is the risk entailed. Unfortunately,
immunisation against whooping cough does not yet afford the same degree of
certainty against attack as is the case with diphtheria, but a vaccine may give limited
protection.