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Infectious Diseases in School Children, 1959
Unlike the previous year, 1959 was an eventful year from the point of
view of infection. There was, in the early months of the year, the usual biennial
visitation of measles, over 700 cases being notified in school children.
Poliomyelitis
During the summer termthere was an outbreak of poliomyelitis in school
and pre-school children. In all 13 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis and nine
non-paralytic cases were notified. Details of the vaccinal state of these children
are given below. It can be seen that only one fully vaccinated child developed
paralytic poliomyelitis and in this case the third injection was almost certainly
given while the child was incubating the infection. As some 60% of school and
pre-school children in Tottenham and Hornsey are vaccinated, these figures
are suggestive of a protective effect.
Not One Two Three Total
vaccinated dose doses doses
Paralytic 9 3 - 1 13
poliomyelitis
Non-paralytic 5 1 1 2 9
poliomyelitis
Total 14 4 1 3 22
Of the paralytic cases four, including the fully vaccinated boy, made an
almost complete recovery, two removed from the district, four were left with
weakness in one limb, and three pre-school children were sufficiency handicapped
as to make it likely that they will need to attend a special school.
Dysentery
Cases occurred sporadically over both boroughs during the year. In
one school in Hornsey and another in Tottenham there was an explosive outbreak
in the spring term which smouldered on for some time despite the usual
measures taken to control it. Family doctors were notified of the outbreak
and of the fact that the organism concerned was resistant to the sulphonamide
drugs, the usual form of treatment.
Tuberculosis
There were nine cases of tuberculosis in school children over the whole
Area, seven pulmonary, one of bone and one of eyes. The figure nine is misleading,
however, as only five of these were new cases, the others being flareups
of old infection or inward transfers. The five bona-fide new cases compare
with six in 1958 and three in 1957. These cases were discussed with the
appropriate Chest Physicians and in one case epidemiological investigation
was considered necessary at the school, X-ray of all adult members of teaching
and ancillary staff being recommended. All were X-rayed and found to be clear.
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