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Scarlet Fever
There was a moderate outbreak of scarlet fever in the early months of 1962.
In the main the patients were schoolchildren. The under-10's were mainly affected
and it will be seen that only about a quarter of the cases warranted removal to
hospital.
Measles
1962 was not a measles year, that is, there was no serious epidemic. It is
interesting to note that there is an incidence of measles throughout life and it
can still occur in middle-age.
Whooping Cough
The incidence of whooping cough has been much reduced by immunisation. It
remains, however, a domestic nuisance, and often leaves enlarged and scarred tonsils
behind.
Pneumonia
The cases notified are those of acute pneumonia, mainly lobar pneumonia,
and as usual the main incidence is in the over-45's.
Puerperal Pyrexia
Ninety-six cases of puerperal pyrexia suggest that one birth in fourteen
leads to some degree of infection. The majority of the notifications of puerperal
pyrexia come from hospitals where, despite the many aseptic and antiseptic procedure
used, the risk of infection is considerably higher than in a domiciliary confinement
In Edmonton the risk to the baby appears to be higher in a hospital confinement than
in a domiciliary confinement, but this may be due to the fact that the cases given
priority for hospital admission are those where some degree of risk is expected.
Erysipelas
This remains a disease of the middle-aged and elderly and the numbers remain
small.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
Two cases is too many. However, two cases of ophthalmia neonatorum compared
ninety-six cases of puerperal pyrexia indicate that the risk to the infant's eyes
is fairly high and the prophylactic measures taken therefore are fairly effective.
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