London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Leyton 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
This page requires JavaScript
105
tions, and 3 had three complications.
These complications, with the number in each age group, are set out in the following table:—
| Nature of Complications. | Age Group Incidence. | Total Incidence. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15 and over. | Number. | Percentage. | |
| Otorrhoea | 7 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 10.0 |
| Rhinitis | 2 | 9 | 2 | _ | 13 | 5.0 |
| Cervical Adenitis | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5.4 |
| Arthritis | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3.2 |
| Measles | 5 | 2 | — | _ | 7 | 3.2 |
| Albuminuria | 3 | 3 | 1 | _ | 7 | 3.2 |
| Secondary Tonsillitis and Quinsy | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 0.9 |
| Second attack of S. F. | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 0.9 |
| Endocarditis | _ | — | _ | 1 | 1 | 0.4 |
| Styes | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0.9 |
| Broncho-pneumonia | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 0.4 |
| Balanitis | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 0.4 |
| Buttock Abscess | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 0.4 |
| Total | 27 | 39 | 9 | 9 | 84 | |
Cases of otorrhoea, rhinitis and adenitis comprised more than half
(55.95 per cent.) of the total complications. Two patients developed
nephritis, one having previously received 20 c.c. scarlet fever antitoxin.
Seven patients had albuminuria without other evidence of nephritis, and
none of the seven received scarlet fever antitoxin. A small outbreak of
measles occurring in the period March-April, 1936, seven children being
affected.
Ttme of Onset of Complications.
| During 1st week in Hospital. | During 2nd week in Hospital. | During 3rd week in Hospital. | During 4th week and later in Hospital. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 24 per cent. | 17 20 per cent. | 21 25 per cent. | 26 31 per cent. | 84 |
Serum-treated Cases.
Fifty-nine patients received serum and of these fourteen developed at
urticarial serum rash. Eight (13.55 per cent.) patients who received scarlet
fever antitoxin developed complications; six were cases of otorrhoea,
one was a case of rhinitis, and one was a case of nephritis.
The walls of the hospital buildings were constructed of corrugated
iron lined by matchboarding, with a layer of felt between
the external and internal coverings. With the lapse of time (over
40 years) the external metal and middle felt coverings became
perished, the result being that cold draughts of air were penetrating