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SCARLET FEVER
There were 45 cases of scarlet fever notified during 1960 compared with
74 in 1959, 80 in 1958 and 59 in 1957 Four of the cases were treated in
hospital. There was no mortality from the disease, which continued to be of
a mild type,
PUERPERAL PYREXIA
The Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations 1951 define this illness as any febrile
condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature of 100.4 F. or more has
occurred within fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage.
During the year 3 notifications were received, all of which occurred in
hospital. The 3 patients all had addresses outside the Borough.
In 1959 11 cases were notified.
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PNEUMONIA
Seven cases of acute primary or influenzal pneumonia were notified during
the year, compared with 18 in 1959 and 25 in 1958. The total number of deaths
from all forms of the disease during the year was 40, the same number as in
1959.
MEASLES
There were 18 cases notified during the year compared with 627 in 1959.
The low incidence of this disease was not unexpected as measles tends to be
epidemic in alternate years. The disease generally remained mild in character
and none of the patients was removed to hospital.
WHOOPING COUGH
There was an increase in notifications in 1960, 55 being received compared
with 5 in 1959, and 10, 108, 82 and 139 in the four previous years. Of the
total notifications only two were admitted to hospital. Whooping cough can be
fatal especially in very young children, and in any event can be very
debilitating. The immunisation of all infants against the disease is strongly
recommended, with the treatment commencing by at least the third month of life.
MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION
One case occurred in a child of 15 months who was admitted to hospital with
a purpuric rash and pyrexia. This was considered to be a case of meningococcal
meningitis and was notified as such after the child's discharge from hospital,
although it had not been confirmed by bacteriological investigation. The child
made a good recovery.
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