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133
Report by Medical Officer on Outbreak of Diphtheria
at Squires Lane School—November, 1914.
There was an outbreak of importance at Squires Lane
School during the Autumn. This outbreak presented some
rather unusual features, and fortunately was found to be very
easily controlled. On October 27, on hearing of the occurrence
of two cases cf diphtheria on the same day, a visit was made
to the school. Both cases arose in the same family, one attending
the Infants' Department the other the Junior Department.
The history of the first case is most instructive, as
showing how easily an infectious disease may spread before
the Health Department becomes aware of the fact. The child
had returned home after a holiday. Two days later he
suffered from sore throat, for which he was kept at home for
a few days. He then returned to school. After two days
attendance he began to suffer from bleeding from the nose,
but still continued at school. Ho was then taken to a medical
man who took a swab, and the diagnosis wets then made. In
this case the child had actually been attending school whilst
the disease was spreading from the fauces to the naso-pharynx.
In the meantime, another child of the same family fell ill.
She was ill for a day or two and kept at home and then returned
to school when she also was found to be suffering from
Diphtheria. Three other children of this family became
affected. Enquiries were then made to ascertain what children
were away from the two affected classes, and the homes
visited. In this way two other cases of Diphtheria were discovered—quite
unsuspected by the parents. Further investigations
were made as to the children who had been away
with sore throats recently. Seven children at once came under
suspicion, all of whom gave a history of having suffered from
sore throat; 3 at the time were affected with some rhinitis.
Of these 7 children 4 gave a pure culture of Diphtheria
organisms from the throat, and of the 3 children suffering from
rhinitis, 2 gave a pure culture of the same organism. These 6
children all gave a very definite history of having suffered from
sore throat. All these children were attending the same class.
Two days later another child from this class was notified as