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48
Ringworm Cases of ringworm of the scalp occurring among 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.

During the year, 409 specimens of hair from school children were examined
for ringworm at the laboratory at the County Hall. Ringworm fungus was
found in 107 of these (84 small spore and 23 large spore).
One case of favus was discovered after microscopical examination.
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.
Special arrangements for the medical examination of children before departure
for school journeys were continued. Particulars of the general arrangements made
for school journeys during 1937 are set out on page 55.
The measures taken in co-operation with the public health authorities in the
home counties with a view to preventing the introduction of infectious diseases
among workers in the hop-fields, which have been described in previous annual
reports, were continued in 1937.
Residential establishments for children
In the annual report for 1936, reference was made to cases of body ringworm
which occurred among boys at Ardale and Mayford approved schools. The outbreaks
subsided in the early part of 1937.
Apart from an outbreak of tinea (feet) and a few cases of otitis media at Mile
Oak school, in connection with which appropriate steps were taken, the few cases
of infectious diseases in the approved schools do not call for comment.
A small number of cases of scarlet fever occurred during the year at Stamford
House remand home and some cases of diphtheria developed there. 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.
Active immunisation against diphtheria was continued during 1937 at all five
of the approved schools, as was also active immunisation against scarlet fever at the
Mayford school.
The few cases of infectious illness which occurred among the children at the
residential special and open-air schools do not call for any special comment.
The infectious diseases which occurred in any appreciable numbers in the
residential schools, children's homes and children's receiving homes were : measles
at two schools, German measles at one, whooping-cough at two, chickenpox at
four schools and one receiving home, mumps at three schools, ringworm (head)
at one and influenza at one. All practicable steps were taken to control the spread
of infection in the establishments, including the removal of patients to one or other
of the Council's hospitals.
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