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
Shoreditch 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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10
DIPHTHERIA.
The cases certified numbered 452 of which 98 or 21.7 per cent. were subsequently
not regarded as being diphtheria. The number of cases during the year was thus 354
which gives an attack rate of 3.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.
The age seasonal and Ward distribution of the cases are included in the table
on page 16.
There were 13 fatal cases—6 males and 7 females. These occurred in the following
age groups: —
Under one year 1
Aged 1-2 years 1
Aged 2-5 years 7
Aged 5-10 years 4
The number of cases, the deaths amongst males and females and the attack, death and mortality rates in the Borough, its Wards and in London are given in the subjoined table:—
| Ward. | Notifications. | Fatal cases. | Rates per 1,000 population. | Case mortality. Deaths per 100 cases. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | Total | M. | F. | Total | ||||
| Attack | Death | ||||||||
| Moorfields | 8 | 7 | 15 | ... | ... | ... | 3.7 | ... | ... |
| Church | 33 | 58 | 91 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5.2 | 0.17 | 4.3 |
| Hoxton | 41 | 39 | 80 | ... | 1 | 1 | 5.2 | 0.06 | 1.6 |
| Wenlock | 26 | 27 | 53 | ... | — | — | 3.8 | ... | ... |
| Whitmore | 25 | 20 | 45 | ... | 2 | 2 | 2.6 | 0.11 | 5.7 |
| Kingsland | 20 | 27 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4.7 | 0.19 | 5.4 |
| Haggerston | 28 | 56 | 84 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7.9 | 0.19 | 3.1 |
| Acton | 19 | 18 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3.2 | 0.26 | 10.3 |
| Total | 200 | 252 | 452 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 3.5 | 0.13 | 3.67 |
| London | ... | ... | 12,241 | ... | ... | 388 | 2.7 | 0.09 | 3.1 |
Diphtheria is one of the serious diseases of childhood. As will be seen by a
comparison of the foregoing tables it is, though somewhat less prevalent than scarlet
fever, responsible for a larger number of deaths. In addition to the lives lost through
this disease it must be remembered that the after effects in those who recover are
frequently most harmful and far-reaching.
As compared with London as a whole it will be seen that Diphtheria in Shoreditch
is more prevalent and somewhat more severe in type. The greater prevalence is
probably clue to overcrowding in the homes which favours the spread of infection
from child to child. The fact that a slightly larger proportion of cases terminate
fatally may reasonably be attributed to the some cause and to the relatively unfavourable
conditions of child life in the Borough as regards the promotion of general
stamina and power to resist disease.