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12
WINTER VOMITING.
During the year there have been several outbreaks of
vomiting at schools in the Borough. They have appeared to
be similar to outbreaks which have been described in
various parts of the World since first being noted some
30 years ago in America when they were given the name
"Winter Vomiting", Although it has never been possible to
demonstrate the organisms responsible it is considered
likely that it is a virus and that it is an upper respiratory
tract infection. The various outbreaks described
have been generally similar, consisting of sudden vomiting,
a feeling of illness and mild temperature and only a few
instances of diarrhoea. During the year there were three
such outbreaks in Ealing< The first occurred in October
in an Infant and Junior School on the same site. 36 children
and 11 staff were affected on one day. 50% of these were
back at school next day but a few severe cases were absent
for several days. The second outbreak occurred in a Nursery
class, the majority of children in the class were affected
as well as the teacher and nursery assistant. A slight
general feeling of illness during the afternoon was followed
by vomiting in the night. Most children were back
at school within two days.
The third outbreak occurred in a Junior School in
November. Early in the month three children were affected
and three weeks later on three successive days three or
four children were affected. All were from the same class
and in some instances the same child was affected on
successive days. Most children were better on the following
day.