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TUBERCULOSIS.
During the year 74 cases of tuberculosis were added to the
Register compared with 106 in 1953. Of these 48 were new cases and
26 were transfers from other areas.
An analysis of the notifications received is given overleaf.
The following cases were removed from the Register:—
Pulmonary Non-Pulmonary.
M. F. M. F.
Deaths from tuberculosis 6 4 — -
Deaths of patients suffering
from tuberculosis through other
causes — — — —
Recovered cases 11 9 4 4
Removals from district 30 41 — 5
47 54 4 9
During the year two schoolchildren were found to have developed
tuberculosis. One case occurred in a girls' school and the other in a
mixed private school.
A full epidemiological survey was carried out on those scholars
whose parents gave their consent, including pupils who had recently
left school, together with teaching and domestic staff.
A total of 729 Mantoux tests were carried out at the two schools,
and arrangements were made for the positive reactors to undergo an
x-ray examination of the chest through the co-operation of the Mass
X-Ray Unit of the Regional Hospital Board. The results of these
investigations indicated that none of the pupils had been infected at
school.
These epidemiological surveys are becoming much more common,
as it is the practice now for Chest Physicians to recommend that
all pupils should be Mantoux tested and all staff x-rayed in any school
where a case of pulmonary tuberculosis is discovered among the pupils.
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