London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bromley 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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28
SCARLET FEVER
119 cases were notified during 1941 compared with 49
in the previous year. The incidence rate per 1,000 population
for 1941 is 2.35. This rate is high because it is
calculated on the present low estimated population figure of
50,430, The incidence for England & Wales. is 1,47 per 1,000
for 1941, and under normal population conditions our rate
should also be in the region of this figure.
92 cases were admitted to hospital - equivalent to 77
per cent compared with 95 per cent admissipn for 1940. This
decrease in hospital isolation is a trend in the right direction,
but whilst scarlet fever remains comparatively mild in
character the policy of home isolation is to be still further
encouraged.
The following tabulation shows the number of children in families in which cases occurred and how the cases were disposed of:
| Home Nursed. | Secondary cases arising. | Admitted to Hospital. | Hospital "Return" cases. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Child in family | 12 | — | 19 | — |
| 2 children family | 8 | 1 | 23 | 1 |
| 3 " " | 4 | 1 | 20 | 2 |
| 4 " " | — | — | 3 | — |
| 5 " " | — | — | 14 | — |
| 6 " " | — | — | 2 | — |
| 7 " " | — | — | 2 | — |
| Adult cases with no children in family | 2 | — | 4 | — |
| Adult cases with 2 children in family | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Non-civilian cases | — | — | 4 | — |
| ___Totals | 27 | 2 | 92 | 3 |
Prom the facts of investigation into the home environment
of the above cases, home isolation could have been
adequately carried out in the 19 cases of the one child in
family group, in the 23 casca of 2 ohil&van in family group,
and in the 4 adult cases with no children in the house.
Thus one may assert that 46 cases were needlessly hospitalised.
insignificant to note that out of 27 home nursed cases
0nly 2 other cases arose in the homes where isolation was
carried out.
All cases wore generally of a mild character and no
amortaitty occurred.