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39
A reference to the active immunisation against diphtheria of children in the
Council's residential schools and homes appears later in this section of the report.
The incidence of scarlet fever amongst the children on the school rolls was
unusually low, 4,852 cases being reported, compared with an average of 7,550 for
the preceding six years. There was an even distribution of the cases throughout the
year, approximately 100 being reported during each school week.
A reference to immunisation against scarlet fever which is being carried out in
three of the residential establishments for children appears later in this report.
References have been made in previous annual reports to the practice which
has been carried out since 1933 at the Cyril Henry treatment centre of passively
immunising children against scarlet fever and diphtheria with a combined antitoxin
consisting of streptococcus and diphtheria antitoxins before tonsil and adenoid
operations, with a view to the prevention of the occurrence of those diseases after
the operations are performed. Owing to the occurrence of cases of post-operative
scarlet fever at the Hanover Park centre, a similar procedure was begun there in
October this year. Parental consent is obtained in each case.
The following is an extract from a report which has been received from Dr. H. R.
Kidner, divisional medical officer:—
Particulars in regard to the Cyril Henry treatment centre, Woolwich, are set out below:—
Scarlet
fever.
Passive
immunisation
against
scarlet
fever and
diphtheria
at treatment
centres.
Children attended 1,541
Operation deferred 223
Serum given 1,158
Serum not given because of—
Recent attack of scarlet fever or diphtheria 5
Recent immunisation 6
Recent asthma 2
Parents refused consent 147
The sister in charge reported that four children had a slight serum rash during their stay
at the centre, but were not detained.
Only one case of allergic shock has occurred. The child concerned was kept at the centre
for a period of three days instead of the usual two days, and quickly recovered.
There were 408 children reported by nurses, after home visits, to have shown, in some
degree, signs of serum reaction. Only two of these had severe reactions and these occurred three
and six days, respectively, after the operations ; both children recovered in a few days.
No case of scarlet fever was reported to have occurred amongst any of the children who
attended the centre.
At Hanover Park treatment centre, Peckham, immunisation commenced on 29th October,
and the following particulars relate to the period from 29th October to 31st December, 1936:—
Children attended 206
Operations deferred 47
Serum given 74
Serum not given because of recent immunisation 19
Parents refused consent 66
One child had a rash on the day after operation which disappeared before the evening, and
21 children had some degree of reaction but in none at all marked. One child was diagnosed as
suffering from scarlet fever and chickenpox after the operation, but this child had not been
injected.
Reference was made in the last annual report to the epidemic of measles which
began in London in the autumn of 1935. The epidemic continued until the schools
closed in July for the summer holidays. During the period of the epidemic (9 months)
32,690 cases were reported from the schools, the attack rate per 1,000 children on
the school rolls being 63, compared with 67 during the epidemic (9 months) of 1933-34.
A special report dealing with various aspects of the epidemic, such as incidence,
mortality, treatment, and the use of serum for prophylaxis, is being prepared for
publication.
Cases of ringworm of the scalp occurring amongst children in the Council's
schools are followed up by the school nurses and, if any difficulty is experienced in
treatment by ointments and lotions, the parents are offered X-ray treatment under
agreements made by the Council with certain voluntary hospitals and treatment
centres.
Measles.
Ringworm.