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Reactions.
During the year there were no cases of local reaction as a result of
an injection of the antigen, but on one occasion a child fainted when receiving
her first injection; she subsequently attended quite cheerfully, and no further
trouble was experienced.
General.
One interesting observation was made during the year that two siblings
each required six injections of antigen in order to become Schick negative.
After the first three injections in each case the test was positive and other
injections were subsequently given. It was interesting that this only occurred
on two occasions and the children concerned were brother and sister.
The immunising material used throughout the year was Burroughs
Wellcome & Co.'s Toxoid Antitoxin Floccules in dosages of 1 c.c. at not less
than fortnightly intervals. Three doses of this material are required, but
reactions are extremely rare and successful immunisation is accomplished in
a high percentage of cases.
After immunisation is completed, patients are requested to re-attend
at the expiration of one year in order that a Schick test can be repeated with
a view to ascertaining if there has been a relapse or if they still remain
protected.
During the year three children who had attended the immunisation
clinic were admitted to the Southall Isolation Hospital. In two of these,
diphtheria bacilli had been found in the throat but the children were not
suffering from the disease itself. The third child, a boy of 6 years, was admitted
suffering from a very mild attack of diphtheria and recovered without any
serious complication.
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