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Measles:- Measles was epidemic in the first four months of the
year during which period 89 of the total of 112 measles patients
were admitted. The number of cases admitted in the different
age groups were as follows:-
under one year-12; 1-2 years-20; 2-5 years-55; 5-15
years-26; and adults-5. 55 patients were admitted from their
own homes and of the remainder 39 were admitted from hostels, 6
from nurseries, 5 from residential schools, 3 from hospitals, 2
from childrens' homes and 2 hospital staff. The following complications
were present:- Pneumonia-34; Bronchitis-14;
Tonsillitis-8; Gastro-enteritis-7; Meningo-encephalitis-4
Convulsions-4; Rhinitis-4; three cases each of laryngitis
stridulosa; epistaxis; stomatitis; impetigo; two cases each of
lobar collapse; anaemia; otitis media and one case each of
purpura; styes and hypertoxaemia. There was one death, a child
1 year 4 months who had developed pneumonia and was also found
to be suffering from subendocardial fibro-elastosis.
Gastro-enteritis:- 104 cases were admitted in the following age
groups:- Under one year-40; 1-3 years-35; 3-15 years14;
adults-15. Classified as to severity-13 were very
severe; 49 moderately severe and 42 mild. The illness was most
prevalent in January and February, 32 patients being admitted
during that period. As usual, no specific pathogen was isolated
in the great majority of cases. E. Coli of the types associated
with diarrhoea were isolated as follows:- E. Coli-0.111-6
cases; E. Coli-0.119, 0.126 and 0.128 - one case each. There
was one death, a mongol child who also developed fulminating
pneumonia.
Dysentery:- All cases admitted were of the Sonne type. Requests
for admission were almost entirely institutional, 36 admissions
being from hostels, 22 from residential schools and 4 from other
hospitals. This also accounted for the predominance of young
children, 5 being under one year; 23 - one to three years; 22three
to six; 7-six to fifteen years and 6 adults. Admissions
tended to concentrate on certain periods. Thus, in the months
of January to May inclusive and August, there were 59 admissions
as against 4 in the remaining six months. Drug resistances
showed a similar pattern to previous years. There were 25
sulphonamide resistant cultures, 9 streptomycin resistant and 7
tetracycline resistant. There was only one persistent carrier.