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12
Diphtheria.
The wisdom of immunising children against diphtheria has
now been fully justified. In recent years as the immunisation
rate increased the diphtheria rate has decreased. In 1949 there
were 16 notifications of suspected diphtheria but in none was the
diagnosis confirmed. Thus the first objective, the prevention of
diphtheria in the Borough, has been reached. This is no time for
complacency, however, as it cannot be too strongly emphasised
that the final objective, the maintenance of this immunity, cannot
be approached unless the immunisation rate is kept high.
Scarlet Fever.
There were 175 cases of scarlet fever. This is slightly fewer
than last year and compares favourably with previous years.
Sixty¬two cases were removed to hospital, the remainder were
nursed at home. Although the incidence is fairly steady the
severity of the disease is slight. Most doctors and many parents
now appreciate that, if home circumstances permit, scarlet fever
can be nursed at home.
Acute Poliomyelitis and Acute Polio¬encephalitis.
As anticipated there was an outbreak of infantile paralysis
although it occurred later in the autumn than expected. It would
appear that this infection is becoming endemic and is tending to
lose its seasonal prevalence. Of 34 notifications, 19 were proved
to be cases of poliomyelitis.
There were 3 cases of polio¬encephalitis and one of them, a
man aged 20 years, died.
Enteric Fever.
Three cases of Typhoid Fever and two of Para¬typhoid Fever
were notified. One of the typhoid cases was a seaman taken ill
on his return from Russia, another was admitted to hospital as a
case of pneumonia and discovered during routine laboratory tests ;
the third was diagnosed after admission to hospital for a continued
pyrexia.
The two cases of paratyphoid although unrelated, both became
ill on their return from holidays in France.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
Twenty¬six cases of Puerperal Pyrexia occurred. Of this
number 23 were in Perivale Maternity Hospital, one in Queen
Charlottes Hospital and two in the patients own home.