London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wimbledon 1925

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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scarlets, 67 per cent. were mild, 24 per cent. were moderately
severe, and 8 per tent. were severe. 1 ease died, on the 9th day
after admission, of toxic scarlet fever, with cerebral symptoms,
giving a case rate of .4 per cent. A child of 4 months, admitted
on the diagnosis of scarlet fever, for observation, died from malnutrition
and gastroenteritis.
Complications:— 48 per cent. of the cases were uncomplicated.
30 cases developed adenitis—5 suppurative. 14 cases
developed rheumatism, of which 4 were severe. 3 cases
developed mastoid disease and required operative treatment; 14
eases developed otorrhoea; 9 cases developed late nephritis; and
the remaining complications consisted of septic sores, onychias,
and other minor conditions.
Mixed Cases:— As previously stated, 3 cases were mixed
infections of scarlet fever and diphtheria—one admitted on the
double diagnosis. One case was admitted as diphtheria, and
measles, and one case as scarlet fever and chicken-pox.
Enteric Fever:— This was of Paratyphoid B. type. The
source of infection was not traced.
Encephalitis Lethargica:— This case was very mild in
type, and made an excellent recovery.
Erysipelas:— 2 cases were admitted—both typical. One
was complicated by acute nephritis, but made a good recovery.
The other was uncomplicated, and also recovered.
Staff:— One Sister developed a septic throat, and, as the
swab was baeteriologically positive and virulent, was treated as
a diphtheria. She made a good recovery.
Cross-infection:— Two outbreaks of German Measles
occurred, one at the beginning and one at the end of the year—
two cases admitted as mild scarlet having proved to be German
Measles. In the first outbreak, 7 other cases developed German
Measles, and in the second 6.
"Return" Cases:—5 "return" cases of scarlet fever
occurred, giving a rate of 2 per cent. 3 cases, apparently uncomplicated,
developed '' colds '' on returning home; in 2 no
source of infection could be traced.
Fever Nurses' Examination:— Two nurses received the
senior certificate of the Fever Nurses' Association after examination,
and five the junior certificate.
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