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SECTION V.
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Table XXXII gives the figures for ages and wards.
Scarlet Fever was more prevalent than in 1932; the largest
incidence has been in East, Upper Norwood, Addiscombe and
Waddon Wards. Based on the estimated ward populations, the
case rate for these wards was respectively, 471, 371, 432, 275; and
264 per 100,000 of the population, The age group 5-15 years, as
usual, suffered most , cases in this group comprising 53.4% of the
total.
Diphtheria was also more prevalent than in 1932, most cases
occurred in Waddon (43) and Addiscombe (29). Once again the
age group 5-15 years gave tne highest figures.
Three cases of Small Pox occurred in the Upper Norwood
Ward.
There were 13 cases of Puerperal Fever and 39 of Puerperal
Pyrexia; 18 occurred in the age group 16-25 years and 34 in the
age group 26-45 years. A majority of the cases occurred in women
having their first confinement.
The incidence of the commoner infectious diseases in Croydon
during the past ten years is of interest.
Scarlet Fever has shown a succession of shallow waves of
incidence with a distinct trend towards an aggregate increase. The
periods of maximum intensity have been in 1924, June and July;
1925, March, April and May; 1926, May, June and July; 1927,
April, May and June; 1928, January and February, with another
in November and December. 1929, a gradual increase throughout
the year without any intermissions. 1930 and 1931, the incidence
was relatively constant, with a slight decline in the number of
cases in August and September. During 1932 there was a steady
increase in cases until the beginning of May when the incidence
fell rapidly and remained low until the beginning of a new wave in
November. In 1933 the incidence remained fairly steady throughout
the year, the highest number of cases notified during a week
was 23 (week ending July 22nd, and the lowest 4 (week ending
August 19th). The weekly average of cases throughout the year
was 10.5, being 2.2 higher than in 1932.