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44
The percentage of cases removed to hospital in 1946 was 100.0
against 93.7 in 1945. No case is refused admission, as home treatment
of Diphtheria can rarely be adequate unless the disease is
extremely mild.
Antitoxin continued to be available for free issue to medical
practitioners at the Public Health Department during office hours,
and at all times at the Fire Station, Forest Road, and at Mr. Gaze's,
10, The Avenue, Highams Park. During 1946, a total of 64 phials,
each containing 8,000 units of Diphtheria antitoxin were issued.
Eighty Walthamstow patients were admitted to hospital either
as cases of diphtheria or for "diphtheria observation." Diagnosis
was confirmed in 22 cases. Of these 6 were non-clinical (i.e., swab
positive only), 11 were clinical cases and five were severe and fatal
cases.
Of the 22 cases five had received previous protection. Of
these five cases two were non-clinical and three were severe to
mild. One of the severe cases died and although the clinical
appearance was of diphtheria, all swabs were negative.
ENTERIC FEVER
(a) Typhoid Fever
A boy of eleven years was admitted to hospital in January
for investigation and treatment. Shortly afterwards he was transferred
to an Infectious Diseases Hospital as a possible case of
Typhoid Fever. The usual enquiries were made.
Later the same day a District Attendance Officer reported that
another boy living in the same locality was at another hospital as
a suspected case of Typhoid.
Since the two children attended the same class at school,
absentees were followed up with the result that a third child who
had been ill at home for some three weeks was considered to be a
further possible case of Typhoid. The position was complicated
by the fact that a sister had suffered from paratyphoid in 1938.
The first blood test result was not diagnostic but the rectal swab
was later reported to be positive to Typhoid.
Information as to the position was circulated to all Medical
Practitioners pointing out that the only two common factors were
attendance at the same Sunday school and the same day school
class.
The onsets in the three cases were 3rd, 6th and 13th January.