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Scarlet Fever.
There was a considerable reduction in the number of cases
of Scarlet Fever notified during the year, 147 cases being
notified compared with 260 in 1950.
The disease was of a mild form and 75 of the cases were
removed to hospital. The greatest incidence occurred in the
age group 5—9 years, 84 cases being notified.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
The number of cases notified was double that for last year,
106 cases being notified compared with 53 in 1950.
This may be accounted for by The Puerperal Pyrexia
Regulations, 1951, which came into operation during the year
and revoked the previous regulations relating to this illness.
Under the new Regulations " Puerperal Pyrexia " means
any febrile condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature
of 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Centigrade) or more has
occurred within fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage.
Under the previous regulations the temperature of 100.4°
Fahrenheit had to be sustained during a period of 24 hours
or had to recur during that period.
The new regulations, however, make it necessary only for
the temperature to occur.
The notification rate for Puerperal Pyrexia in respect of
the Borough of Hendon is 49.9 per 1,000 total (live and still)
births which is much higher than the rate of 10.66 per 1,000
total births for the Country as a whole.
This is accounted for by the fact that a Maternity Hospital
situated in the area provides accommodation not only for the
Borough of Hendon but also for the surrounding districts, the
condition occurring in women normally resident in these outside
districts who enter the hospital for their confinement.
Of the 106 cases notified 35 only were resident in Hendon and
if this figure is taken the notification rate per 1,000 total (live
and still) births is 16.5.
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