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common feature of widespread epidemics—was probably accentuated
this year due to the exceptionally cold weather experienced
during the height of the epidemic. There were two
fatal cases. One child, aged 4 years, died seven days after admission,
death being considered due to streptococcal septicaemia.
The other fatal case was that of a case of a child of 15 months
suffering on admission from broncho-pneumonia and gastroenteritis.
Mastoidectomy had to be performed on the two children who
developed acute mastoiditis. In one of these children there was
a co-existing chicken-pox infection.
The average period in hospital for all measles admissions was
18 days. In all cases except one admitted as measles, the
diagnosis was confirmed.
WHOOPING COUGH.—Of the 15 patients admitted
suffering from whooping cough, 12 were from Ealing and 3 from
Brentford and Chiswick. Their age distribution was as follows :
Under 1 yr. 1—2 2—5 Over 5
7 3 4 1
The following complications were encountered :
Broncho-pneumonia 6 cases One case became
cross infected with
chicken-pox.
Convulsions 2 cases
Bronchitis 4 cases
Due to the high ratio of infants admitted, this small total of
whooping cough patients included a high proportion of seriously
ill cases. There were two fatal cases. One child aged 14 months
died from broncho-pneumonia 15 days after admission. The
other fatality concerned a baby aged 4\ months admitted in a
moribund condition suffering from broncho-pneumonia and convulsions.
Death occurred 6 hours after admission.
In addition to the above confirmed cases, admissions for
whooping cough included two cases of bronchitis and one of
measles.
DIARRHOEAL DISEASES.—Gastro-enteritis in infants
constituted the most important disease of this group. Of the 13
cases of gastro-enteritis admitted, 9 were under 12 months of
age. No fatalities occurred in cases of primary gastro-enteritis
although one baby was so ill that recovery seemed scarcely to be
expected. All cases except one were admitted during the last five
months of the year, a period during which diarrhoeal disorders
appeared to be more prevalent.
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