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21
Whooping Cough:- As in previous years, admissions were largely
confined to the very young. Their age groups were as follows:Under
one year - 20; 1-3 years - 13; over four years - 4. The
following complications were encountered:-
Bronchitis - 10 cases; pneumonia - 6; lobar collapse - 3;
tonsillitis - 1; skin sepsis - 1.
Mumps: - The number of mumps complications was unusually large.
There were 12 cases of meningo-encephalitis. Of these, ten were
preceded by salivary gland involvement, one case was diagnosed
by the rise in anti-body complement fixation titre and one on
mumps antibody estimations and co-existing orchitis. There was
one case of mumps paralysis affecting the right deltoid. Other
complications experienced were five cases of orchitis and one
case each of pancreatitis, labyrinthitis, epistaxis, bronchitis
and asthma.
Chicken-pox: - Three of the chicken-pox cases were primarily
severe.Complications in the remaining patients were as follows:One
case each of lymphadenitis, conjunctivitis, bronchitis,
furunculosis, skin sepsis and eczema. Seven patients were already
in hospital suffering from various other illnesses. Four
patients were hospital nursing staff. Eight patients were from
Residential Homes and Hostels.
Infective Hepatitis:- The increased number of infective hepatitis
patients admitted was due to an outbreak in a residential
nursery during the months of October and November. Six staff
and eight children were affected. Two of the children were nonicteric,
and were diagnosed by associated symptoms, confirmed by
other tests for liver damage. Of the remaining four cases, one
was associated with pregnancy and was of the severe relapsing
type. Tests in almost all cases showed that liver dysfunction
persists after the jaundice has subsided.
Meningo-encephalitis:- A total of 23 cases of meningoencephalitis
were encountered. Of these 12 cases appeared to be
due to the mumps virus as already detailed. There was one case
each of meningococcal meningitis and haemophilis influenza
meningitis. This leaves nine cases to be classified as meningoencephalitis
of unknown or uncertain origin. In one of those
patients, serum antibody tests were suggestive of poliovirus
type III infection. In another case, the late development of
Parkinsonism and drowsiness suggested encephalitis lethargica.