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SCHOOL HEALTH
Reports were received on six school children who had been admitted to hospital after eating or
drinking unwisely. One had imbibed a quantity of cherry brandy; one had taken 40 junior aspirins;
and another had consumed phenytoin tablets. In three cases laburnum seeds had been the attraction.
Fortunately, all the children recovered.
Prevalence and control of infectious disease
Sonne dysentery
There were outbreaks in two schools in the borough involving a total of 72 children. In addition, 37
sporadic cases were reported.
Scabies
Seventy children were treated for scabies during the year, and clinic nurses inspected 2,291 school
children in classes where cases had occurred.
German measles
(rubella)
Although not usually a serious disease, it has been established that rubella, occurring in a woman
during the early months of pregnancy, may cause congenital defects in the foetus. Upon the
occurrence of rubella in school children, the mothers of the pupils are advised, as also are female
members of the staff so that they may, if considered advisable, consult their doctor and take any
other action necessary.
Reporting of
infectious disease
Head teachers reported 382 school children as suffering from infectious diseases.
Tuberculosis of
the lungs
It was considered advisable to investigate the school contacts of a pupil notified as suffering from
tuberculosis of the lungs. The following figures relate to the investigation which was carried out by the
staff at the Edmonton Chest Clinic:
Number of contacts 157
Number of contacts who had previously had B.C.G. vaccination 133
Number of contacts approached for consent to investigation 24
Number of contacts for whom consent received 16
Number who gave consent and had satisfactory X-ray results 13*
Number who gave consent but failed to attend for investigation 3
*Five of these were subsequently given B.C.G. vaccination.
Ionising radiations
In accordance with instructions issued by the Department of Education and Science, the approval of
the Secretary of State is required before certain radio-active sources may be used in schools. One
comprehensive school has been given authority to use open sources, and almost all comprehensive
schools are authorised to use closed sources. In addition, the Education Department is in consultation
with the Department of Education and Science regarding the purchase, for the shared use of schools
in the borough, of a type of X-ray apparatus for the examination of the structure of materials.
A revised code of practice for the protection of persons against ionising radiations arising from
medical and dental use was produced in 1972; there are no major differences between this and the
one previously circulated. The code applies to the Council's eight dental clinics which have X-ray
machines. During the year 717 pupils were X-rayed at dental clinics; 1,722 X-rays were taken,
including 1,486 for orthodontic purposes.
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