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95
PUERPERAL PYREXIA
Because the term puerperal fever developed unfortunate associations,
many cases were not notified. So much was this the case that for some
years the death returns would be more than the number of cases notified.
The condition of puerperal pyrexia then became notifiable. For a period
both conditions called for notification, but later on only puerperal
pyrexia. What is now notifiable is the occurrence of a rise of temperature
to a certain height or for a certain length of time in a woman who has
recently been confined or has had an abortion. This rise in temperature
could be due in some way to the confinement or abortion, or might be
quite unrelated to it, as for instance an attack of influenza or a common
cold in a woman recently confined. Even where due to the confinement it
would not necessarily be due to a uterine infection. It could be the result
of an inflammation of the breasts, a thrombosis of the veins or a urinary
infection, all conditions which can readily occur after a confinement.
Where this rise of temperature takes place in a woman confined in hospital,
the notification is sent to the Medical Officer of Health of the
district in which the hospital is. Where, as is the case in this district where
there are no such hospitals, all notifications relate to mothers confined
in their own homes or in the one nursing home which still accepts
expectant mothers. During the year, four notifications were received. In
two of these the raised temperature was due to a breast abscess; in the
others the cause was probably not due to the confinement.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM
At one time much blindness was due to infection of the eyes of
infants. A steady improvement followed the practice of the instillation
into the eyes of newborn infants of a silver preparation. The condition
has now become relatively uncommon even though the practice of
instillation of prophylactic preparations has largely been abandoned.
Although many infants might develop sticky eyes soon after birth; the
development of the full condition of ophthalmia neonatorum is now rare.
While then occasionally a notification is received that an infant is suffering
from ophthalmia neonatorum, recovery is usually rapid and complete. One
such notification was received this last year.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIONS
Knowledge of the prevalance of some of the infections which are not
notifiable in the district is obtained from intimations received from the
Head Teachers about the absence of children from school. Where there
is an outbreak of an infection, these figures are a useful guide. On the
other hand, they are based on information provided by the parents about
the illness of a child when often enough no doctor has been summoned
and no corrections are made later. This can result in returns being sent