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We explained that on their first visit the children were seen
at any morning minor ailment clinic, so that no time was lost in
commencing treatment.
Each child over 7 years of age was taught a definite simple
routine toilet of the meatus and instructed to do this several times
daily at home. General supervision and any other treatment was
carried out by the school nurses 3 times a week either at the Clinic
or at the school.
Any child who was not making satisfactory progress, and
also any child who was not well by the 21st day was examined again
at the ear clinic and treatment perhaps changed or augmented.
We have worked on the same lines this year, and have continued
to impress the parents with the importance of fresh air,
sunlight, exercise, and suitable food, in the treatment of ear disease.
The clinic is now working smoothly and in most cases we have had
the co-operation of the parents.
68 cases were referred to us for an ear condition.
9 of these were found to be suffering from conditions other
than middle ear disease. 3 were cases of furunculosis of the meatus
and they cleared up in a week. In 2 cases enlarged post auricular
glands were present and the pain simulated mastoid pain. 4
cases were referred for slight deafness but in all cases the symptoms
cleared up after the removal of impacted wax from the meatus.
3 children came up complaining of earache. In all cases
the drumhead was pink and there was some rise of temperature,
but the condition resolved without perforation of the drum.
There were 47 cases of middle ear disease. 19 were seen
within a day or so of the commencement of the ear discharge, and
10 of these were well within 10 days. The average duration of
the discharge in these 19 cases was 16 days.
The remaining 28 cases all had discharging ears for varying
periods before attending the Clinic for advice. 4 of them had a
severe degree of external otitis which was probably responsible
for keeping up the middle ear infection. On simple routine treatment
they were all well within a month. In 2 children the discharge
cleared up after removal of tonsils and adenoids, and all the
28 cases were cured within 3 months.
At the end of the school year there were still 5 children attending
the clinic for discharging ears. 2 of these were postmeasles
cases and one of them was referred to hospital where a
mastoid operation was performed on both sides. A secondary