View report page

53
Diphtheria.
The incidence of this disease has again diminished,
the number of notifications received being 160 compared
with 261 for the previous year. As in former years the
bulk of cases occurred between the ages of one and 15
years.
Of the total cases notified, 159 were admitted to the
Joint Hospital and one remained at home. This case
was of a mild type, the parents being willing to pay for
the necessary mcdical attention and were able to provide
adequate nursing. Also the home of the patient received
regular visits by the Sanitary Inspector throughout the
course of the illness.
Home treatment of Diphtheria is not encouraged
as it is a disease characterised by surprises, therefore if
a patient presents severe or even moderate symptoms,
he should be, and is, removed to hospital. The case
referred to was kept at home by special request, and as
stated, was of a very mild nature.
Death Rate.
The second table on the previous page shows that
12 deaths were registered as due to Diphtheria, giving a
case mortality rate of 7.5 per cent. This is a marked
decrease on the figure for the previous year which was
9.19 per cent.
Secondary Cases.
There were 16 secondary cases in all, which is a
small number compared with the number that might
be expected. Only one return case occurred, that being
a child who was discharged from hospital on the 30th
January, the onset of the second attack being on 9th
February.