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89
certainly removal of tonsils), should be avoided where practicable
during the times when poliomyelitis is prevalent in an
area.
(5) Because of the increased chance of other children being in an
infectious state, it is well, during times when the disease is
prevalent, to avoid crowded places, gatherings of young
children, and unnecessary travel; and to pay even more
attention to general hygiene, such as protecting food from flies,
washing crockery and cutlery in very hot water, and so on.
Whooping cough
Of the 574 cases notified during the year, 8 occurred in residential
nurseries or institutions and were not, therefore, visited. In the remainder
of the cases the homes were visited by the infectious disease visitors.
103 of these visits were futile in that noone was in (6 cases at the
first call, 32 cases at the second attempt, and in 11 cases at the third
attempt). In the remainder details were taken of the patient, the
possible cause of his infection, and of his method of isolation, and
general advice was given with regard to contacts and to hygiene.
Revisits or follow-up visits were paid to 427 of the patients some
time during the year or early in 1954 with the following results :—
2 had not been confirmed as whooping cough.
In 91 there was no information at the revisit (68 were revisited
once, 22 twice, and 1 three times).
In 7 cases the family had moved from the district.
In 283 the child had either fully and completely recovered, or, if
the revisit were made fairly shortly after notification, the child
was making a good recovery. In some of these it was specifically
noted that a great improvement had been made after treatment
in decompression apparatus.
In 44 cases the visitor noted that recovery had not been complete
—the child might be losing weight, or be still debilitated or be
still suffering from a cough, or merely perhaps that its general
health was only "fairly good." In 21 of these cases some more
specific complaint, notably bronchitis, was associated with the
whooping cough. In all cases suitable advice was given which,
in all but the fairly simple, was to take the child back to the
private doctor or to hospital for further medical attention, if in
fact this was not already being given.