View report page

8
This increase in notification of dysentery is general throughout
the country and can be attributed to more complete notification
due to improvements which have been made in the pathological
laboratory services.
There were no major outbreaks and all the cases were individual
or involved two or three members of a family.
As in previous years this was a very mild type of enteritis but
such a type can rapidly assume epidemic form and cause much
concern among parents, as children are mainly affected.
To prevent such outbreaks the practice of hand hygiene by all
concerned is essential and even mild cases of diarrhoea should be
reported.
Enteric Fever.
One case of Typhoid Fever occurred in a Polish girl student
aged 24 years. The case was admitted to Neasden Hospital, the
only symptoms being a high temperature, and was there diagnosed
as Typhoid Fever. Enquiries failed to trace the source of the
infection.
Four cases of para-typhoid were notified and in three the
diagnosis was confirmed.
One was a woman of 25 years who gave birth to a child in
Perivale Maternity Hospital. Symptoms of high temperature and
diarrhoea followed and a rectal swab showed Para Typhoid B. She
was then transferred to Neasden Isolation Hospital.
The other two cases, a boy of 6 years and a girl of 15 years were
diagnosed in hospital.
Again no trace of the origin of the infection was found.
Enteric Fever Carrier.
There remains the one carrier as before, and she is still kept
under surveillance.
Erysipelas.
18 cases were notified, the same number as in the previous
year. One of these cases was subsequently diagnosed as allergic
dermatitis.
Food Poisoning.
Of the 78 cases notified 15 were confirmed by laborarory
diagnosis.