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
Walthamstow 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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85
Complications.—During the year cases of Diphtheria tended
to run uncomplicated courses. Three very severe cases which
developed late Cardiac Paralysis recovered. Three cases of Ocular
Paralysis were noticed. One case of Paralysis of Accommodation.
The symptoms being entirely subjective, this can only be diagnosed
in older children. Probably the one case noted is not an accurate
reflection of its incidence. Two cases of Palatal Paralysis occurred.
One case of very severe serum sickness was observed in a child who
had had serum on two previous occasions. One case in which
severe Marasmus complicated the Diphtheria made a good recovery.
Diphtheria Cases transferred to Cubicle Block.—From
Acute Diphtheria Ward—Diphtheria and concurrent Scarlet Fever,
6; Diphtheria and Scarlatinal desquamation, 3; Diphtheria and
Morbilli, 1; Diphtheria and Varicella, 1; Diphtheria in contact
with Varicella, 1; Diphtheria and Pertussis, 2; For observation,
4; Tonsillitis, 1; Total, 19. From Convalescent Diphtheria
Block—Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever, 6; Diphtheria and Measles,
3; Diphtheria, Measles and Impetigo, 1; Diphtheria, Measles and
Broncho-Pneumonia, 1; Diphtheria and Diarrhoea, 1; Tonsillitis,
1; For Tonsillectomy, 1; Total, 14.
MONTHLY ADMISSIONS OF SCARLET FEVER CASES.
| Under 5 years. | 5 to 10 years. | 10 to 15 years. | Over 15 years. | Total. | Total. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| January | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
| February | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 31 |
| March | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
| April | 4 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 24 | 39 |
| May | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 27 |
| June | 4 | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 20 |
| July | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | 8 | 18 | 26 |
| August | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| September | 9 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 18 | 38 |
| October | 6 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 46 |
| November | 4 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 27 | 48 |
| December | 7 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 32 | 50 |
| Totals | 59 | 52 | 65 | 94 | 32 | 36 | 22 | 32 | 178 | 214 | 392 |
Complications.—One patient notified as Scarlet Fever
developed Measles six days after admission to Hospital. Both
diseases were of a severe form and were later complicated by a
panophthalmia which necessitated the enucleation of the eye. This
operation was performed at the Western Ophthalmic Hospital.
One patient developed a concurrent ophthalmoplegia and
otorrhoea of the same side. This patient was removed to Whipps
Cross Hospital.