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Section F.
PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The non-notifiable infectious diseases still give a lot of trouble,
particularly to the young children attending school for the first time, but
an attempt is being made to provide convalescent treatment at various
convalescent Homes at the seaside for such children; this work is very
encouraging and gives very good results.
Doctor Latham Brown, Medical Superintendent of the Isolation Hospital,
continues to favour us with the kindness and courtesy which is characteristic
of him in dealing with the cases of infection, and some of the non-notifiable
diseases are treated in the Isolation Hospital.
There is a fall in the incidence of Diphtheria, and were it not for a slight
outbreak immediately after Easter the result would have been even better.
Scarlet Fever is still in evidence in a mild form throughout the district.
As some of these cases exhibit no greater symptoms than a mild sore throat,
it is extremely difficult to detect until subsequent peeling indicates the cause
of the previous indisposition.
"Return" cases numbered 13, allowing for an interval of 28 days
between a patient coming home from the Isolation Hospital and an inmate
of the house going down with scarlet fever.
Smallpox.
No cases of smallpox were notified during the year.
Enteric Fever.
As previously mentioned the disease continued to appear in sporadic
fashion, but we are happy to say with less incidence than last year.
We are still unable to trace the source of infection.
Immunisation against Diphtheria.
As mentioned in my last report there is again an increased demand for
immunisation against diphtheria, and the sense of co-operation of the parents
in the matter is greatly appreciated.
Practically all the children brought for immunisation are under 10 years
of age, and it is not considered necessary in the first instance to Schick
Test these children.
So far no immunised child in Edmonton has developed the disease.
The preparation used is T.A.F. and three injections are given at weekly
intervals.
Puerperal Fever, puerperal pyrexia and ophthalmia neonatorum are
referred to later on, under the heading of Maternity and Child Welfare.
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