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Favus.
Play centres.
School
journeys.
Hop picking
—infectious
disease.
Approved
schools and
remand
home.
Residential
special and
open-air
schools.
Residential
schools,
children's
homes, and
children's
receiving
homes.
During the year, 453 specimens of hair from school children were examined
for ringworm at the laboratory at the County Hall. Ringworm fungus was
found in 121 of these (84 small spore and 37 large spore).
One case of favus was discovered after microscopical examination.
Close co-operation has been maintained with the Play Centres Committee,
who were notified with regard to all schools where infectious illness was prevalent.
The Committee have continued the scheme for the distribution of notices warning
parents against sending children to the centres if they are unwell or are home contacts
of infectious illness.
The special arrangements were continued for the medical examination of
children before departure for school journeys. Particulars of the general arrangements
made for school journeys during 1936 are set out on page 48.
The measures taken in co-operation with the public health authorities in the
home counties to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases amongst workers
in the hop-fields, which have been described in previous annual reports, were continued
in 1936.
Residential establishments for children
Reference is made later to the cases of body ringworm which occurred amongst
boys at two of the approved schools during the year. With this exception, the
few cases of infectious diseases in these schools do not call for any comment.
Active immunisation against diphtheria was begun at Mayford and Gisburne
House during 1936, and this preventive measure is now in operation at all the
five approved schools.
Active immunisation against scarlet fever was continued at Mayford and a
reference to the results obtained appears later.
Small groups of cases of scarlet fever occurred during the year at the remand
home, and some cases of diphtheria developed in February. The inmates were
kept under careful observation and swabbed where necessary. References to the
occurrence of cases of vulvo-vaginitis at this home are made later in this report.
The few cases of infectious illness which occurred amongst the children at the
residential special and open-air schools do not call for any special comment.
A reference to active immunisation against diphtheria at the residential special
schools is made later in this report.
The infectious diseases which occurred in anything approaching epidemic
form in the residential schools, children's homes and children's receiving homes
were measles at 3 schools and 1 receiving home during the epidemic period,
German measles at 4 schools, chickenpox at 3 schools and mumps at 4 schools.
Cases of infectious disease occurring in these establishments were immediately
removed to one or other of the Council's hospitals, and all practicable steps were
taken to control the spread of infection in the establishments.
The arrangements described in previous annual reports for sending infectious
disease "contacts" to Earlsfield House children's receiving home have been continued.
During the year, 129 children were admitted to the " contact" block at Earlsfield
House. Of these, 22 developed the disease to which they had been stated to have
been exposed, and 5 developed other diseases.