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Winter Vomiting:
This is an ill defined condition which can be highly infectious and is
probably caused by a variety of infective agents. It is thought that the
infection mainly occurs amongst children, but adults are also affected.
With children, the disease is characterised by an acute onset of vomiting
which lasts for about 24 hours. There is little bowel disturbance. However,
when adults are affected there tends to be a reversal of manifestations.
As a direct consequence of the mildness and short duration of the
symptoms, together with the apparent lack of sequelae, little notice is
usually taken and, therefore, it is impossible to estimate the prevalence of
the disease.
Occasionally, however, explosive epidemics occur and a large
proportion of a school can be infected in a very short time. Investigation by
the department affords little evidence of causation and control of the
infection, which appears to be self limiting, rests in simple routine hygiene
measures.
TETANUS
As a result of health education most people are aware that tetanus
is a preventive disease.
Short term immunisation can be effected by an injection of serum
following an accident. Unfortunately this has several disadvantages and,
as this knowledge becomes more widespread, an increasing number of
people are being immunised with tetanus toxoid as a routine measure.
This gives a long term immunity and does not have the same
disadvantages as the serum. Provided the medical personnel are aware of
the state of immunisation at the time of an accident all the patient then
requires is a booster dose of tetanus toxoid. Unfortunately, all too often
the serum has to be given because no written record is carried by the
patient.