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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Table XXXVI.
Total: 185 cases.
| Rheumatic Pains | 128—69.2% |
| Rheumatic Fever | 25—13.5% |
| Chorea | 28—15.1% |
| Carditis Definite | 31—16.8% |
| Carditis Suspected | 49—26.5% |
| Tonsilitis | 49—26.5% |
Seven children had had both rheumatic fever and chorea.
Rheumatic Fever Cases.
There were 25 children who gave a definite history of rheumatic
fever. Of these 3 had sound hearts, 15 had definite and 7
suspected carditis.
Chorea Cases.
There were 28 cases of chorea. Of these 13 had had definite
carditis, 7 suspected and 8 sound hearts.
Table XXXVII.
185 cases classified by ages at onset of initial symptoms, shown in relation to age-grouping of the same cases at the time of examination.
| Age Groups | 2-3 | 3- 4 | 4-5 | 5-6 | 6-7 | 7-8 | 8-9 | 9- 10 | 10-11 | 11 12 | 12-13 | 13- 14 | 14-15 | 15- 16 | 16-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | 2 | 10 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 27 | 26 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 27 | 26 | 18 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
(1) Grouping according to age at onset of initial symptoms.
(2) Grouping according to ages at time of examination.
In 161 cases (87%) initial symptoms appeared before the age
of 11 years. During the age period 2-7 years, 94=50.8% of the
children showed symptoms.
Family Histories.
In the case of 61 families (33%) either the father or the mother
had had rheumatic fever or chorea. In 24 other cases (13%) a
history of rheumatic fever was obtained in near relatives of the
Parents. the case of 31 children (16.8%) their brothers or
sisters had had either rheumatic fever or chorea. 37.2% of the
cases gave a negative family history.