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Serious heart disease was not discovered amongst the 1,999
children examined as routines. Only one child with organic
disease of the heart was discovered and in this case the condition
was quiescent and she was kept under observation.
There were, however, eight children with functional heart
disease requiring treatment and nine requiring to be kept under
observation.
At the special inspections four of the children examined
were found to have organic disease of the heart. Three of these
cases required treatment. The remaining case was quiescent
and was kept under observation.
In addition, one child with functional heart disease was
found requiring treatment.
Nearly all the cases with organic disease of the heart
occurring amongst school children are of rheumatic origin.
Amongst the 1,999 children examined as routines ten, or
0.50%, were found to be suffering from rheumatism in its milder
and sub-acute forms.
In the case of the 2,421 special inspections there were
twenty-one children, or 0.86%, with symptoms of rheumatism.
These figures do not accurately indicate the incidence of
rheumatism amongst school children. In the routine inspections,
unless the parents are present, and in the absence of any abnormality
of the heart, it is obvious that the mildest and most
insidious forms of rheumatism are easily missed unless the child
itself complains to the doctor of "growing pains" or symptoms
of a similar nature.
(j) Tuberculosis. Cases of tuberculosis are not frequently
found amongst school children in Wimbledon. During 1933 only
one case of non-pulmonary tuberculosis was discovered at the
routine medical inspections and this child had made such progress
that the condition merely required to be kept under observation.
All suspected cases are referred to the Tuberculosis Physician
between whom and the School Medical Staff a close co-operation
exists.
(k) Other Defects and Diseases. A considerable number of
children were found at the routine and special inspections to be
suffering from conditions not designated as specific defects in
Table II. These conditions are shown in the Table under the
heading "Other defects and diseases." A great number of these
conditions were due to colds, influenza, and infectious diseases.
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