London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Stepney 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]

This page requires JavaScript

85
History of Group and Action taken.—The family consisted of father,
mother and seven children. In September, 1937, the mother and three
members of the family, a daughter ("a" below), a son and baby, were
"hopping" in Kent and were in temporary residence in a hut on the hopfields.
Whilst there, the mother developed Ulcerative Colitis, and a fortnight
later, on returning home, was admitted to hospital where she was found
negative for Typhoid, but discharged herself before the completion of the
investigation. There is no evidence that this woman had Typhoid. In
October the daughter "a" became ill and was found to have Typhoid and
died in hospital in December, 1937. Early in December another daughter
"b" became ill and was later diagnosed as Typhoid and admitted to hospital,
and recovered after a lengthy illness. The local medical practitioners were
circularised in December, their attention was drawn to the occurrence of
Typhoid and to the facilities for diagnoses provided by the Borough Council.
Meantime, a daughter "c," aged 5, who was under observation, was
found to be infected and notified as Typhoid on the 5th January this year,
having previously been removed to hospital on the 31st December, 1937,
where she eventually recovered.
The remaining members of the family remained well.
Enquiries made through the Kent Authorities revealed no evidence of
any contact with Typhoid during the mother's residence in the hop-fields,
and no evidence could be found as to the original source of the Group X
cases.
Group Y.—The origin of this Group also apparently arose in 1937. The
cases will be described by the letters "d," "e," "i," "g" and "h." "d"
was notified in 1937.
"d"—The first case "d," a boy, was first unwell at the end of August,
1937. He was seen by a private doctor and sent to hospital in September
where blood cultures and Widal tests later revealed that he had Typhoid.
The source of his infection could not be traced. He was discharged fit at
the end of November.
"e"—A young girl, unrelated to the above, was notified to me as a case
of Typhoid early in January, 1938. The case was diagnosed in the fever
hospital to which she had been removed some time after the onset of her
illness, which commenced early in December. She eventually recovered.
"f"—An adult male whose illness commenced in the middle of January,
was notified to me as Typhoid a week after his onset. He was removed to
hospital and recovered.
"g"—The wife of "f," who had nursed her husband at home before his
removal to hospital, was notified as Typhoid five days after her husband went
to hospital. She also recovered.
"h"—The baby boy, only child of above. This child was not ill, but
Widal test appeared to indicate that he was a missed case of Typhoid. He
was removed to hospital as a precautionary measure and as both parents were
in hospital. He was therefore " notified " as Typhoid.