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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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MONTHLY ADMISSIONS OF DIPHTHERIA CASES.
| Month. | Under 5 years. | 5 to 10 years. | 10 to 16 years. | Over 15 years. | Total. | Total. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| January | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| February | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| March | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| April | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| May | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
| June | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| July | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| August | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| September | 2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| October | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| November | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| December | 2 | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Totals | 18 | 11 | 29 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 71 | 56 | 127 |
The cases of Diphtheria were classified as follows:—
Nine patients were regarded as dangerously ill. This group
included one case of haemorrhagic diphtheria. In all these cases
some degree of nasal infection accompanied the faucial lesion.
Laryngeal diphtheria (1), mild nasal diphtheria (12), bacteriological
diphtheria (20), mild faucial (69) and severe faucial (20).
Eight of the dangerously ill patients were given serum intravenously.
In two cases 32,000 units were administered, and in
six cases 16,000, in addition to the appropriate intramuscular dose.
Complications.—Complete paralysis of lower limbs, 1. Early
cardiac paralysis with subsequent recovery, 2.
In all the cases classified as severe and as dangerously ill a
considerable amount of paresis of the lower limbs followed:—
Palatal paresis, 4. Complete palatal paresis, 1.
Diphtheria Cases transferred to Cubicle Block.—For
isolation prior to transfer to a convalescent home, 1; Streptococcal
Tonsillitis, 1; Vaginal Discharge, 1; Scarlet Fever suspects (one
case confirmed), 3; Otorrhoea, 1; Acute Nephritis, 1; suspects (both
cases confirmed), 2.