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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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35
very troublesome outbreak occurred at an infants' school during
the autumn term.
The weekly incidence was as follows:—
| 11th September | 4 | 6th November | Nil |
| 18th „ | Nil | 13th „ | 1 |
| 25th „ | 3 | 20th „ | 1 |
| 2nd October | 6 | 27th „ | Nil |
| 9th „ | 6 | 4th December | 1 |
| 10th „ | 3 | llth „ | 1 |
| 23rd „ | Nil | 18th „ | 1 |
| 30th „ | Nil | 25th „ | Nil |
This modern infant school, with accommodation for 240.
opened in December 1953, comprises six classrooms (each with
washbasin), assembly hall, school kitchen and up-to-date sanitary
accommodation.
Attention was first drawn to the number of cases of scarlet
fever at the end of September and the District Sanitary Inspector
and the School Nurse were at once sent to inspect the premises and
the children respectively. On 5th October, a member of the medical
staff examined the noses, throats and hands of all children in school.
Out of 148 children in attendance, 12 with injected fauces were
excluded and 2 "peelers."
Although twelve children with injected fauces were excluded
there were 64 other children who showed some slight injection of
their fauces. At a later similar "mass" examination in November
there were 47 children out of 147 in attendance with similar slight
injection, and as a matter of interest a "control" examination was
carried out at a nearby infants' school where there had been no
scarlet fever for a considerable time. Here the findings were 51
children with slightly injected fauces out of 163 in attendance, i.e.,
a very similar percentage. It was concluded, therefore, that slightly
injected fauces appeared to be the average winter norm last winter.
A circular letter of advice was sent to the parents of all children.
Copies were also sent to doctors practicing in the locality with
a covering letter. Parents were asked not to send children to
school unless quite fit.
After consultation with the medical staff of the Ministry of
Health on 7th October, a further circular letter was sent to parents
intimating that swabs of all children and staff would be taken the
following week. As a result eight heavy nasal carriers were excluded
with appropriate instructions to the parents to consult their doctors.
The question of mass prophylaxis was considered but was
postponed for further consideration. The organisms were Type 4
streptococci and were sensitive to penicillin and sulphonamide.