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Owing to the close connection between certain infectious diseases and ear trouble
an arrangement is made by which notification is received of children who have suffered
from ear discharge while in a fever hospital. The names of infants under school
age are sent to the local medical officers of health for the necessary action, while
children of school age are examined by the school doctors at intervals of six months,
until at two consecutive examinations no symptoms of the disease are found. The
number of cases reported was 326, of which 59 were forwarded to borough councils
or other local authorities. Of the cases followed up at school, 18 were found on the
first examination to have otorrhoea, 7 of these had cleared up on second examination.
Aural
disease and
scarlet fever
All the cases not cleared up are being kept under observation.
The following-up of children found to be in need of treatment or special observation
is carried out by the school care organisation.
In July there were 21 schools out of a total of 991 where the care committees
were not functioning as regards medical following-up work, and in 14 others they
were not independent of official help, i.e., organisers had to find other voluntary
workers from time to time to carry on. Plans are on foot for filling most of the gaps,
but probably others will arise. The figures given, therefore, are likely to be about
average. Teachers are eligible to serve on care committees but they have not the
right to vote.
The voluntary workers are responsible for acquainting the school doctor with
any particular difficulties with which the family has been contending, such as
unemployment, lack of proper accommodation, illness, etc., any of which might help
the school doctor in determining the action desirable in any particular case. Such
Children's
care
committees.