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PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Sonne Dysentery
All schools are asked to notify the department immediately there are more
than two or three children in one class showing symptoms of digestive upset with
or without diarrhoea. An outbreak of Sonne Dysentery at a primary school at the
beginning of December resulted in the absence of a large number of children from
school. To stop the spread of infection, parents of children suspected of suffering
from the disease were asked to consult their family doctor and to keep their children
away from school until they were found by bacteriological examination to be clear
of infection.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
A case of pulmonary tuberculosis was found in a senior school and investigation
of contacts — 67 children and five teachers — was undertaken by the Chest Clinic.
No further cases were revealed.
The Mass Radiography Unit visited both technical colleges and 356 persons
had chest X-rays at the Enfield College and 352 at Southgate College. Five students
were recalled for further X-ray examination, the results of which showed two to be
normal; one to be suffering from cardiac enlargement; one to be suffering from
fibrosis; and one requiring occasional chest clinic supervision, which has been
arranged.
Scabies
There were a few isolated cases of scabies during the year.
Notification of Infectious Diseases
Head teachers notified the department of 407 cases of suspected infectious
disease occurring in school children.
HEALTH EDUCATION
At the special request of the head teachers at three senior schools and Oaktree
Special School, health visitors gave regular talks on a variety of subjects, including
mothercraft and personal hygiene, to children in class. Visits were also arranged
to infant health and dental clinics and to a dairy and sewage works for parties of
school children.
Films dealing with such subjects as smoking, drug addiction and growing-up
were shown at a school and one of the technical colleges. Fourteen film shows
were performed in all.
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