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52
Centres, were seen by the Assistant Medical Officer in
charge of Foot Health.
The need for a well shaped, well fitting shoe which is
checked for size every three to four months at a shoe shop,
is stressed, and the wearing of "Casuals" i£ discoui'iged.
A Verruca Survey was carried out during the year, and
children so infected were asked to complete a questionnaire.
Of a total 8,972 children seen, 144 had verrucae,
an overall incidence of 1.6%, as compared with 0,9% in
1954. Analysis of the results showed that there was a
steady increase of verrucae with age, cases rarely occurring
in the infant schools, and that girls are more affected
than boys. This is in accordance with the few other surveys
that have been published. To determine the mode of
spread of the virus infection has proved more difficult;
67% of the children attended the local swimming bath, and
the data concerning the frequency of washing feet, the
changing of socks, and sharing of shoes etc. was inconclusive.
A further survey is being prepared which it is
hoped will throw more light on the subject.
In the meantime an attempt has been made to reduce
this high incidence of verrucae by instituting a regular
foot inspection every term in all the junior and senior
grade schools. This is usually carried out at the time of
the head inspection and is done by the Health Visitors
and School Nurses. A surprising number of verruca have
been found, most of them completely unsuspected by the
children concerned. Of 18,079 children inspected in one
term 334 were found to have verrucae.
Treatment has been given at the Minor Ailment Clinics
and by the Chiropodist. The method used is successful
though time consuming, and because of this an approach
was made to the Regional Hospital Board for a weekly treatment
session at a local hospital. This was refused, however,
on the grounds that hospital outpatient Departments
are already overcrowded.