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61
methods of testing rather than to any real increase in
the incidence of this condition. This is borne out by the
fact that less children were referred to the Ear, Nose
and Throat Specialist despite the greater number tested.
FOOT HEALTH.
The active concern for foot health in children in the
Borough of Ealing began in 1947 and from 1951 developed
into a periodic inspection of our school children's feet
by a specially trained nurse. She has seen 10,616 children
this year, of which 347 were referred for advice and
treatment to the foot clinics in charge of the Medical
Officer for Foot Health.,
21% of children were found to be wearing defective"
shoes and 22% had Hallux Valgus, a bending outward of the
big toe which later leads to a bunion, the most crippling
and painful condition of adult feet. That Hallux Valgus
and badly fitting shoes are related is by now well established
but; unfortunately, very few parents realise just
how important is the correct fitting and choice of shoes
for their children. So as to help with advice in the buying
of suitable shoes, an illustrated leaflet is being
prepared for use in our Clinics and which in the future
may be used in other parts of Middlesex.
The once a term inspection of the school children's
feet for foot infection by the Health Visitors and Clinic
Nurses has continued to show a similar incidence of Verrucae
(Plantar warts) and a higher incidence of Tinea
(Athlete's Foot) this year as in 1956. Compared with the
rest of England the incidence of Verrucae (12%) would
appear high in Ealing but this is probably only "apparent"
and not “real” for; as far as is known, no other Authority
searches for and records foot infection in school children
three times a year Infection with Tinea responds readily
and quickly to a simple treatment but the current method
of treating Verrucae takes much longer The four chiropody
sessions per week in Ealing have thus proved inadequate
to cope with this problem without undue delay but the
Health Visitors and Clinic Nurses have helped considerably
by treating these warts at the Minor Ailment Clinics
However, two further chiropody sessions per week are to
commence from April, 1958; and it is hoped that these
extra sessions will cover the majority of children awaiting
cure.