London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Croydon 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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96
It would appear, therefore, that the giving of scarlet fever
serum did not have any effect in diminishing the number of complications.
The relapses occurred on the 28th and 36th day of disease
respectively.
(d) Desquamation.
Desquamation occurred in 130 out of the 170 cases treated
with serum, or 76.4%. In 15 cases there was no desquamation.
There was no striking difference in the type of desquamation as
between the serum treated cases and those not so treated. Both
cases who had a relapse peeled a second time.
| Day of Disease. | No. of Cases. | Complications. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 2 |
| 2 | 64 | 11 |
| 3 | 50 | 20 |
| 4 | 31 | 15 |
| 5 | 11 | 2 |
| 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 29 | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | 1 | — |
It will be seen that most cases had serum on the second day
of disease, and that the proportion of complicated cases in this
group was smaller than in those who received serum at a later
date. In cases who received serum on the first day only a third
showed any complications.
The cases which received serum late were those who had a
relapse but had not received serum at the onset of the disease.