Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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There was one case of laryngeal diphtheria which recovered
without operation.
Deaths.—There were nine deaths from diphtheria. Two
deaths occurred from other diseases in children admitted with a
diagnosis of diphtheria which was not subsequently confirmed,
one being found to be suffering from broncho-pneumonia and the
other frorfi broncho-pneumonia and streptococcal laryngitis following
the removal of tonsils and adenoids.
The case mortality in diphtheria patients was 5 per cent.
The nine deaths from diphtheria are recorded as follows:—
No. | Day of Disease when Admitted. | Days in Hospital before death. | Remarks. |
---|---|---|---|
1. | 6 | 2 | Faucial diphtheria. |
2. | 4 | 8 | Faucial diphtheria. |
3. | 3 | 7 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
4. | 7 | 7 | Severe faucial and nasal diphtheria. |
5. | 2 | 3 | Severe faucial and nasal diphtheria. |
6. | 4 | 5 | Faucial diphtheria. |
7. | 6 | 8 | Severe faucial diphtheria (haemorrhagic) |
8. | 4 | 4 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
9. | 5 | 3 | Severe faucial diphtheria. |
In seven of the above cases a doctor had seen the child in
the early stages, but had failed to make a diagnosis of the disease
until it was advanced. In six of the cases swabs were taken by the
doctor to obtain bacteriological confirmation of the diagnosis
before giving the specific anti-toxin treatment. In the remaining
two cases the parents had failed to send for the doctor until it
was too late.