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The incidence of Measles fails most heavily on infant
children and on children of early school age. It is those age
groups which are most liable to mortality. Very careful nursing
during the acute phase of illness, and very careful convalescence
are necessary in order to avoid complications. Mothers should
try to recognise the early catarrhal signs of Measles. The
timely isolation of a suspected case may help to prevent
secondary cases in the home. The patient should be kept warm
in bed. The room should bo well aired. Stuffy, airless rooms
cause complications. The diet should be light during the
period of fever. A doctor should be called if the case is
severe or any signs of complication arise. Infant children
should be protected until they reach an age of greater resistance
to secondary infections. Information of all notifications of
children under five years of age is sent to the appropriate
health visitor, in order that advice and help may be given where
necessary, A leaflet of advice is sent to the home of every
notified case,
WHOOPING COUGH:- There was a decline in the incidence of
Whooping Cough. Forty-two cases were notified, a reduction
of forty-seven cases. The case rate was 0.59 per 1000 of
population, compared with 1.64 per 1000 of population for
England and Wales, There no death. Whooping Cough is
a disease of young children. Approximately one tenth of the
cases occur in the first year of life. Children under one year
do not respond effectively to immunisation, and the greatest
care must be taken to protect young babies from infection.
Similar advisory methods as for Measles are applied to cases of
Whooping Cough,
IMMUNISATION AGAINST WHOOPIING COUGH:- A scheme was
introduced applicable to children between 1 year and 5 years
of the poorer inhabitants, to weakly children, and to children
from overcrowded homes. The vaccine is injected in four small
doses of 0.4 c.c, each containing 8000 million B. Pertussis,
The first throe injecting are given at weekly intervals, and
the fourth a month later. This concentrated vaccine can
suitable be combined with Toxin-Antitoxin-Floccules (T.A,F.)
for Diphtheria Im unisation, using the T.A.F. as a diluting and
immunising agent. During the year 1945 eighty-nine children
received four injections of Whooping Cough Vaccine. The incidence
of Whooping Cough has been so low that It has not been possible to
judge the efficiency of the vaccine.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA:- Two cases wero notified, compared with
seven cases In the previous year. The case rate was 1.86 per
1000 total births, compared with 9.93 per 1000 total births for
England and Wales.
The early notification of Puerperal Pyrexia is of
primary importance in the prevention of maternal mortality.
Medical practitioners should make the fullest use of the consultant,
bacteriological, and hospital services provided by the Authority,
and secure the immediate and effective isolation of any suspected
case occurring in a maternity home.
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