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

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Ealing 1935

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]

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8
There was one case of laryngeal diphtheria which recovered
without operation.
Deaths.—There were nine deaths from diphtheria. Two
deaths occurred from other diseases in children admitted with a
diagnosis of diphtheria which was not subsequently confirmed,
one being found to be suffering from broncho-pneumonia and the
other from broncho-pneumonia and streptococcal laryngitis following
the removal of tonsils and adenoids.
The case mortality in diphtheria patients was 5 per cent.

The nine deaths from diphtheria are recorded as follows :—

No.Day of Disease when Admitted.Days in Hospital before death.Remarks.
1.62Faucial diphtheria.
2.48Faucial diphtheria.
3.37Severe faucial diphtheria.
4.77Severe faucial and nasal diphtheria.
5.23Severe faucial and nasal diphtheria.
6.45Faucial diphtheria.
7.68Severe faucial diphtheria (haemorrhagic)
8.44Severe faucial diphtheria.
9.53Severe faucial diphtheria.

In seven of the above cases a doctor had seen the child in
the early stages, but had failed to make a diagnosis of the disease
until it was advanced. In six of the cases swabs were taken by the
doctor to obtain bacteriological confirmation of the diagnosis
before giving the specific anti-toxin treatment. In the remaining
two cases the parents had failed to send for the doctor until it
was too late.