Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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disease proved to be measles. The other two cases were found
to be suffering from septic rashes.
The following complications were noted amongst the 146 cases of scarlet fever under treatment:—
Rhinitis | 7 |
Otorrhœa | 4 |
Otitis Media (without Otorrhœa) | 2 |
Mastoiditis | 3 |
Adenitis | 11 |
Nephritis | 9 |
Albuminuria | 5 |
Rheumatism | 11 |
Whitlows | 6 |
In most of the cases the disease was of a mild type, and
no deaths from scarlet fever occurred in the hospital during
the year.
Anti-scarlatinal serum was used fairly extensively. Most
of the patients, with the exception of those who had the disease
in a very mild form, received an injection of this serum on
admission.
The serum appeared to lower the temperature considerably
and to make the patient much more comfortable. The liability
to complications, however, did not appear to be appreciably
diminished. The same result has been experienced in preceding
years.
The most important complications which arose were those
involving the ear and kidneys. Four patients developed
otorrhœa and' two otitis media, which subsided under treatment
without perforation of the ear drum. In addition three patients
developed mastoiditis. These latter were operated on by Dr.
Dan McKenzie, the Consulting Oto-laryngologist to the hospital.
Two of the patients were also suffering from acute hæmorragic
nephritis, associated in one case with manifestations of mild
pyæinia. The three patients made complete recoveries and were
discharged from hospital free from ear discharge and with normal
hearing. It is only rarely that a patient who has developed ear
complications is discharged from hospital with a discharging
ear.
Complications of the kidney were of unusually frequent
occurrence, 9.6 per cent. of the patients admitted with scarlet
fever developing nephritis or albuminuria. The nephritis was
generally associated with some infective condition such as
otitis media or adenitis. Most of the patients on admission were
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