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POLIO-ENCEPHALITIS AND POLIO-MYELITIS.
Two cases of polio-encephalitis and 3 of polio-myelitis were notified
during the year, this being the highest number experienced in any one
year since the formation of the District, the previous highest being
2 in 1932.
The first case with cerebral symptoms, occurred in April in an adult
resident who was in a London Hospital, following an abdominal operation,
and unfortunately ended fatally. As the patient had been in
Hospital three weeks before developing symptoms, the disease may
have been contracted outside the Urban District.
The other cerebral case in a young adult unfortunately followed
a very rapid course and proved fatal in another London Hospital.
Strangely enough a case of polio-myelitis had occurred in the same
household less than three years previously.
The 3 cases of polio-myelitis occurred in August and September,
2 being in the Coulsdon West Ward. Of these cases, 2 were treated
at a London Hospital, and 1 at the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital.
Both of the former developed paralysis, and are still receiving treatment.
These cases coincided with a wave of the disease which occurred chiefly
in South-East England and, as is usual in such outbreaks, it is probable
that a number of mild cases were not recognised. One such case, also
in the Coulsdon West Ward, presented itself at a Child Welfare Centre
having received no treatment during the acute stage, which was considered
to be due to a cold. The resultant paralysis is still receiving
treatment through the Child Welfare Scheme.
PNEUMONIA.
There were 30 notifications of acute primary or influenzal pneumonia
during the year, as compared with 13, 32 and 30 in the past three years,
but 20 of these related to inmates of the Mental Hospitals. The remaining
10 cases were chiefly in the Sanderstead Ward.
No cases were removed to the Isolation Hospital.
The number of deaths registered as occurring from all forms of
pneumonia was 16 as compared with 18 in the preceding year.
DYSENTERY, Etc.
Although several waves of gastro-enteritis were experienced in the
District during the year, including two in the Autumn in which a number
of children had quite sharp attacks with pyrexia, and blood and mucus
in the stools, only one case of dysentery was notified. Unfortunately,
the baby in question died in hospital without confirmation of the diagnosis
by bacteriological examination.
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