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12
TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE
Number of cases of Notified Tuberculosis:-
Pulmonary 8
Non-Pulmonary Nil
Taking the total child population at 39,929 (estimated), the
pulmonary tuberculosis incidence rate per 100,000 was 20.0, and
the non-pulmonary nil. There were no deaths from tuberculosis.
CAUSES OF DEATH IN SCHOOL CHILDREN
From the weekly returns of the local Registrar and from the
inward transfers, it is possible to abstract the causes of death
of all school children. There were 15 in 1960 equal to a death
rate for this group of 0.38 per thousand. This is an average
low figure and the details were:-
Influenza 1
Pyelonephritis 1
Bronchial Asthma 1
Malignant Diseases 4
Congenital Heart 1
Accidental 4
Other Diseases 3
The death from influenza was in a child with other congenital
defects. The case of bronchial asthma was a child well
known to the department and for whom the Corporation accepted
financial responsibility for a period of treatment abroad. Unfortunately,
this proved as unsuccessful as all other attempts
to control the condition and at the time of death, the child was
attending the day school for physically handicapped pupils. The
deaths from malignant diseases, congenital heart and other
diseases could not, as far as it is possible to judge, have been
prevented by any action on our part. The accidental deaths no
doubt represent a failure in our road safety and home safety
campaigns and are thus a spur to greater effort. The case of
pyelonephritis (Coroner's decision) does not appear to have been
diagnosed during life, when presumably there were no signs or
symptoms to suggest that this infection was present and a fatal
termination was imminent. All the rest of the family were presented
for examination and found to be well. This was a most
unusual case and I do not think any change in examination procedures
is indicated from this single occurrence.