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The Head Teachers' returns in 1957 also indicated that
mumps was widely epidemic in the early months when a fair
number of cases of German measles occurred in Reedham, Sanderstead
and Old Coulsdon. Small outbreaks of chicken-pox were
noted in Woodcote. Roke and Reedham in April, with scattered
cases in Sanderstead and Old Coulsdon at the end of the year.
The teachers are provided with instructions prescribing the
minimum periods for which cases of infectious diseases must be
excluded from school and, where necessary, these are supplemented
by advice from the school doctors or Health Visitors who also
visit the homes as and when desirable and practicable.
INFESTATIONS.
Although not in any way infectious, it is convenient to include
here a note on the measures taken to reduce the commonest infestations
:—
(a) Scabies.
Is due to a mite which lives on or in the skin; it was common
during the war, but fortunately no case came to the notice
of the Health Department during 1957. Early notification of any
case is very desirable in order that contacts may receive preventive
treatment while the patient is being treated.
(b) Lice.
Almost all school children are inspected by the Health
Visitors each term to ensure the absence of lice and in 1957 only
10 were found to have head lice, usually following accidental or
casual infestation. Such cases quickly respond to the treatment the
parents are advised and assisted to provide. Only 2 or 3 families
in this District seem permanently liable to harbour vermin.
THE CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The main lines along which attempts have been made to prevent
the spread of infectious diseases have been (a) to prevent the
organisms entering the body and (b) to increase the body's resistance
to any which do enter.
Isolation of the sufferer and disinfection of his excretions and
surroundings can, in some instances, reduce the risks of others
getting the germs, at least in very large numbers. These measures
are most successful in those diseases, such as enteric fever,
dysentery and possibly poliomyelitis, in which spread occurs mainly
through the vomit, urine or faeces.
The presumption underlying this historical approach to the
problem is that only the obvious patient is carrying the germs.
Increasing knowledge has shown, however, that in almost, if not in
all cases the infection has spread to other persons before the first
case is recognised, and a variable proportion of these can carry
and thus spread the disease without themselves suffering much, if
any, ill health.
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