London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Croydon 1969

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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Table: Bearing in mind that the number for each age in each group is small, it does appear that Asian children are smaller and less heavy than other groups, and that European children are taller and heavier.

Bearing in mind that the number for each age in each group is small, it does appear that Asian children are smaller and less heavy than other groups, and that European children are taller and heavier.

Boys and GirlsEuropeanAsianB.W.I.Others
Ages in YearsHeightWeightHeightWeightHeightWeightHeightWeight
5 & 6 years44.4 in.42.7 lb.43.3 in.39.4 lb.43.5 in.39.4 lb.43.4 in.41.9 lb.
7 & 8 years49.6 in.59.2 lb.48.5 in.49.4 lb49.4 in.53 lb.48.7 in.51.7 lb.
9 & 10 years53.5 in.68.8 lb.52.3 in.60.8 lb.51.7 in.61.8 lb.52.8 in.67.6 lb.
11 & 12 years57.7 in.83.21b.55.4 in.70.7 lb.56.5 in.75.9lb.57.4 in.75.5 lb.
1 3 & 14 years61.5 in.106.7 lb.59.5 in.86.7 lb.61.4 in.98.6 lb.62.1 in.105 lb.
15 & 1 6 years65 in.118.5lb.62.7 in.102.3 lb.63 in.111.4 lb......

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Since October 1969 the parents of all children from areas with endemic
hookworm have been asked to co-operate by collecting a specimen for
pathological examination.
66 requests were made for specimens and 44 were returned and examined
with 7 positive results. Those with a positive result were notified and treatment
arranged with their own general practitioner.
Of the stool specimens examined 29 were from children from British West
Indies of which 5 were positive; 14 were from Asian children of which 2 were
positive; 1 from Sierre Leone was negative; i.e. 16.3% were positive with
parasitic infection.
The following results from the positive specimens are given below:—
(1) Entamoeba coli cysts found in 5 specimens.
(2) Hookworm ova found in 2 specimens.
(3) Trichuris trichura ova found in 1 specimen.
(4) Giardia lamblia cysts found in 1 specimen.
(5) Hymenolepis nana ova found in 1 specimen.
2 specimens had mixed infection - one contained (1) (2) (3) from B.W.I.
- one contained (1) (4) from Africa.