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Defects of the Skin
Plantar warts (verrucae) were again prevalent in the Borough during
the year and it was necessary to extend the facilities provided at the
clinic in the Purley area and to open a clinic at Sanderstead. A detailed
summary of the available information concerning the prevention of this
troublesome condition was given on pages 12 & 13 of last year's Report.
Prompt identification of new cases with immediate exclusion from all
barefoot activity until the condition is cured are minimum requirements
for the control of plantar warts in schools. Suspicious cases should be
similarly treated until the condition has been definitely excluded by the
medical staff. The diligent application of these measures arrested a
number of school outbreaks during the year.
Seven children were found to be suffering from ringworm during the
year, six being ringworm of the scalp and one of the body. It was
necessary to screen the heads of all the children in two schools with
the aid of ultra-violet light in order to exclude any possible spread.
Ringworm of the scalp is now an uncommon but infective condition which
requires prolonged treatment during which time the child must remain
excluded from school. It was not necessary to make alternative provision
for the education of the affected children on this occasion.
Defects of Vision
Defects of vision constitute the largest single group of abnormalities
discovered by the School Health Service. In 1966 23.7% of all defects
were in this group (Table 3). The additional routine examination of vision
at the age of thirteen years was extended throughout the Borough during
the year, and the number of children who were examined in this age
group shows a marked increase. The need for this additional examination
has been questioned, but in fact the prop crtion of vision defects which
were discovered in 1966 was greater in this age group than in any other.
It is particularly important that any vision defect should be immediately
identified and remedied at a time when a large proportion of children are
devoting an increasing amount of time to study and close work.