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The disease on the whole was fairly mild. The numbers were slightly
in excess of the previous year and were mainly accounted for by the epidemic
which occurred in Western Road school. The first case in the school was
notified on the 20th September, and in the following weeks 1, 2, 6, 4, 6, 1, 9, 2,
and 1 cases were notified, making a total of 33. This total included several
carriers who were found scattered among various classes.
The death from diphtheria which occurred in the district was amongst
those children affected in Western Road school.
Diphtheria Prevention.
I mentioned in my Report for 1935 that the Ministry of Health had
approved a scheme for the immunisation of children against diphtheria.
The scheme may best be explained by reproducing the wording of a
pamphlet which has been distributed through the health centres and clinics,
and which is as follows:—
DIPHTHERIA PREVENTION
DIPHTHERIA IS A SERIOUS DISEASE. OF THOSE ATTACKED, ABOUT ONE
IN TWELVE DIES. CHILDREN ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN ADULTS, AND
YOUNG CHILDREN MORE THAN OLDER CHILDREN. It is now possible to prevent
diphtheria in the vast majority of cases, and where it is not completely prevented the disease
takes a relatively mild form.
The Urban District Council of Southall-Norwood has arranged that children between the
ages of one and 14, whose parents or guardians so wish, and who are not taken to their own doctor
for the purpose, may be inoculated against diphtheria, if they are not already immune.
Whether children are already immune to the ordinary dose of diphtheria infection may be
shown by a simple skin test. Since however very few children below the age of seven years have
obtained this immunity, this test will only be done on children over that age. If the test is
negative nothing further is required for the child. If the test is positive, or if the child is below
seven years of age, an attempt should be made to immunise the child against diphtheria.
This, in nine cases out of ten, can be brought about by the injection of a small dose or
doses of a special preparation. With some preparations a course of three injections is needed ;
with others only one injection is required. A few weeks elapse before the injections take complete
effect, but in every case, about three months after the last injection, a skin test will be done to
see if the child has been sufficiently immunised. If so, a certificate to this effect will be given ;
if not, a further injection will be advisable.
The injections themselves are practically painless. In some cases a little hard lump may
remain for many weeks. Very occasionally, in especially susceptible children, there will be some
redness round the site of the injection and perhaps a little swelling or tenderness in that area,
or the child may feel out of sorts for a day. These symptoms very quickly clear up and leave
the child quite well. In any event the number of such cases is very small indeed and they
practically never occur in young children.
THE DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION CLINIC IS HELD FROM 2 TO 3 P.M. ON
THURSDAY AFTERNOONS AT THE MANOR HOUSE, THE GREEN, SOUTHALL. IT
IS HOPED THAT ALL PARENTS WILL AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS OPPORTUNITY
OF BENEFITTING THEIR CHILDREN AND OF SAVING THEMSELVES A LARGE
AMOUNT OF ANXIETY IN THE FUTURE. Arrangements have been made with the
schools in order that school children who are treated may have their attendance regarded as a
school-attendance.
E. H. R. SMITHARD, M.D., D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health.
The first session was held on Thursday, March 2Gth, 1936, and six
patients attended. The results for the year are shown in the following
statistics:—
62