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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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MONTHLY ADMISSIONS OF DIPHTHERIA CASES.
| Month. | Under 6 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 | - | 3 | — | 4 | — | - | — | 2 | — | 9 | 9 |
| February | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| March | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| April | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | - | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| May | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| June | - | - | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| July | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | - | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| August | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 5 | 5 |
| September | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| October | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| November | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| December | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| Totals | 11 | 26 | 17 | 22 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 39 | 74 | 113 |
The cases of diphtheria were classified as follows:—
Those receiving up to 24,000 units are included under the
heading "mild." Those receiving over 24,000 as severe.
Mild, 36; Severe, 40; Bacteriological, 37.
All the cases in the class "severe" suffered from paresis of the
lower limbs. Other complications were palatal paresis 8, and
paralysis of the ciliary muscle, 3.
Three patients were regarded as dangerously ill. Two survived
with permanent heart weakness.
Three children were regarded as seriously ill, and this included
the only case of laryngeal diphtheria admitted during the year.
They all made good recoveries.
MONTHLY ADMISSIONS OF SCARLET FEVER CASES.
| Month. | Under 5 years. | 5 to 10 years. | 10 to 16 years. | Over 15 years. | Total. | Total. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | E | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| January | 3 | 4 | 1 | - | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| February | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 16 |
| March | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 18 |
| April | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| May | 5 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
| June | 5 | 5 | 2 | 7 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 24 |
| July | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| August | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| September | 5 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 12 | 15 | 27 |
| October | 5 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 13 | 17 | 30 |
| November | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | - | — | 11 | 10 | 21 |
| December | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| Totals | 43 | 49 | 33 | 40 | 16 | 20 | 15 | 32 | 107 | 141 | 248 |