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104
(1) Skin Diseases.
It is interesting to note at the present time the infrequency
of skin diseases in children actually attending
school. Ringworm of the scalp, a condition which at
one time caused much loss of school time, is now almost
a rarity. Scabies seldom occurs, and when it has
occurred, has been controlled.
Skin diseases are prevalent at the School Clinics.
Response to treatment is slow and the presence of
urticaria common. The work of the school nurses at the
clinics is largely concerned with these conditions.
There was a fall in the incidence of Impetigo during
the year, only 75 patients attending the clinics for treatment
compared with double this number in the previous
year.
Following-up.
All cases referred from the clinics for domiciliary
treatment are followed up by the School Nurses, who
see that the recommended action has been carried out by
the parent. Parents respond well to advice and as a
rule bring the child back to the clinic before his return
to school. Cases requiring extra nourishment or convalescent
home treatment are referred to the Bromley
Children's Care Committee, who take the necessary
action and are doing valuable work in this direction.
W here a child fails to attend the clinics for treatment,
the parent is interviewed by the school nurses or
the case is referred to the School Attendance Officers for
their investigation. We find the help of Head Teachers
invaluable, also, in this direction, with the result that
few children fail to receive adequate treatment.
When a child ceases to attend school at the school
leaving age, the value of the clinics is lost except in
those cases where the Juvenile Employment Bureau
seeks our assistance. If an organisation existed whereby
treatment which began at the school clinic could continue
under the National Health Insurance, containuous
treatment would prove successful in cure and prevent
much of the "quack treatment" which still persists
among the unenlightened. Patent medicines continue
to have a vogue with little beneficial effect upon the
patient.