London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Brentford and Chiswick 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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In the remaining 22 cases the final diagnosis was as follows :—
| Streptococcal Tonsillitis | 14 | |
| Streptococcal Glossitis | 1 | |
| Simple laryngitis | 1 | Sent in as laryngeal diphtheria |
| Whooping Cough | 1 | |
| Convulsions | 1 | |
| Vincents Angina | 2 | |
| Glandular Fever | 1 | |
| No evidence of disease | 1 |
Most of the cases were mild and included 3 carriers without
clinical signs, but there was one death in an infant of one year
with laryngeal diphtheria who lived 26 hours after a tracheotomy.
Tonsillectomy was performed with satisfactory results in three
cases with persistently positive swabs. The average period in
hospital of confirmed cases admitted during the year was 43 days.
SCARLET FEVER. The cases sent in as Scarlet Fever
numbered 159 (124 from Ealing, 35 from Brentford and Chiswick).
The diagnosis was confirmed in 151 cases. In the remaining 8
the ultimate diagnosis was :—
Tonsillitis 2
Sulphonamide rash 1
Toxic-erythema 1
Lichen urticatus 1
No apparent disease 3
The age-distribution of the confirmed cases was as follows :—
| Under 1 | 1—2 | 3—5 | 6—10 | 11—15 | 16—25 | 26—45 | Over 45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 34 | 62 | 33 | 8 | 8 | 1 (Age 73) |
The following complications were encountered either on
admission or during the course of treatment
1. Secondary tonsillitis in 5 cases.
2. Cervical adenitis in 12 cases, including one submaxillary
abscess.
3. Otitis media, 7 cases, one of which required mastoid operation
before the condition cleared up.
'4. Bronchitis, 3 cases.
5. Persistent nasal discharge, 2 cases.
6. Conjunctivitis, one case.
7. Sore lips, one case.
8. Secondary pyrexia, 2 cases.
9. Secondary attacks of scarlet fever, 4 cases.
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