View report page

15
Defects of the Lungs
Although the number of lung defects remained stationary in 1968, it
must be remembered that the levels previously reported in 1966 and 1967
were themselves relatively high. This failure to detect any improvement
despite the continued progress of smoke control schemes in the area during
the last three years must be a matter for real disappointment. A national
study reported in 1966 (British Journal preventive and social medicine 20
p. 1) showed that whilst upper respiratory tract infection was unrelated to
the degree of air pollution, chest infections most certainly were, so that
some improvement in Croydon may be confidently expected.
Pulmonary tuberculosis did show an improvement upon previous figures
and the number of cases of notified tuberculosis in children of school age
was
Pulmonary - 5
Non-Pulmonary - 0
The school population was 50,000 (approx.) so that the incidence rate
of pulmonary tuberculosis per 100,000 was 10. In 1967 the rate was
16/100,000. Once again there were no deaths from tuberculosis in school
children.
Abdominal Defects
At school medical inspections the child is only examined in the
upright position which does not facilitate the examination of the abdomen.
This category which was introduced relatively recently thus contains a
variety of defects which themselves vary in severity. Forty-five defects
were reported during the year and twice this number were referred for observation
by the school medical officer (Table 3).
One of the defects usually recorded in this category is pain at the time
of the monthly period (dysmenorrhoea). An inquiry into the incidence of the
condition carried out by the Service some two years ago showed wide
fluctuations in different schools, for which no reasonable explanation was
found. Unfortunately treatment of the condition is of limited value and the
Superintendent Physiotherapist has conducted a critical review of the value
of certain new methods which have been advocated (e.g. psychoprophylaxis).
There is as yet insufficient evidence of improvement by these methods to
justify the extensive provision of a treatment service for the condition but
the search will continue especially in view of the recent report of the disadvantages
suffered by school girls in academic examinations (The Lancet
(1968) 2 p. 1386). It has long been known that industrial output can be shown
to be affected by the condition, and this latest report of a similar effect upon
school work presents a challenge which the School Health Service cannot
ignore. Certainly there can be no justification for the fatalism with which the
condition has hitherto been accepted.