View report page

Home visitation and exclusion from school are still the two
chief methods relied upon to prevent the spread of these diseases.
Treatment in hospital is provided when required owing to social
or physical complications being present, but records of these admissions
are rarely received.
INFESTATIONS.
(a) Scabies.
During 1953 only 2 adults were treated by the Health Department
for this disease, compared with 4 last year, 11 in each of
the two preceding years and a maximum of 399 in 1944.
In view of the very small number of isolated cases now occurring
it would be preferable for them to be referred to the Medical
Officer of Health in order that the contacts can be dealt with
really effectively.
(b) Vermin.
The number of reported cases of infestation also remained
small and was limited to 12 children found to have head nits in
school. Almost all of these were only casual infestations which
immediately responded to the treatment which was mainly provided
by the parents.
THE CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
When practicable, immunisation is the most effective of the
measures for the control of infectious disease, but its usefulness
is proportional to the degree of public support and the standard
of immunity which is maintained by reinforcing doses, when these
are necessary.
The comparatively small risk of inoculations influencing the
onset of poliomyelitis is now well-recognised, especially when
precautionary measures are instituted. It should certainly not
deter parents from agreeing to immunisation against diphtheria
and whooping cough, which treatment will only be given if the
time is considered opportune by the doctor concerned, especially
as subcutaneous injections are now standard practice locally.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
As previously stated it is still very important that the parents
of all children should ensure that they are kept as highly immune
as possible against diphtheria by early immunisation and periodical
enhancing doses.
24