London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Sutton and Cheam 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
This page requires JavaScript
whooping Cough One hundred and sixteen cases were notified
in 1955, compared with eighty one cases in 1954. The case rate
was 1.47 per thousand of population, compared with 1.78 per
thousand of population for England and Wales, There was no
death.
The monthly incidence of notified cases is shown in the following table;
| January | 10 | July | 20 |
| February | 16 | August | 3 |
| March | 13 | September | 6 |
| April | 13 | October | 2 |
| May | 15 | November | 4 |
| June | 14 | December | - |
Infection was prevalent from January to July and was widely
distributed, Forty nine of the cases were infants. Ten were
babies under one year. Whooping Cough is a serious infection
in infancy. The risk of mortality is highest in the first three
months of life and diminishes with age Every effort should be
made to prevent babies from acquiring infection, Immunisation
is protective to a majority of children and can be commenced at
the age of four months. Infants should be immunised or reinforced
before they enter nursery school or day school. In some
children the illness is so modified by immunisation that
recognition of infection is difficult. The whoop may be
infrequent or absent. If there is any suspicion it is wise to
isolate the child until the cough disappears.
Immunisation Against Whooping Cough, Immunisation against
Whooping Cough is available free of charge for children under
five years of age, either through the family doctor or at Child
Welfare Clinics. In 1955 six hundred and eighty six children
received immunising injections The material used was H. Pertussis
suspended vaccine (20.000 million bacilli per c.c.). Three
injections of 1 c,c. are given at monthly intervals. The
injections are given subcutaneously.
Small Pox. No case was notified.
Vaccination Against Small Pox. Small Pox appears suddenly
and strikes quickly. The danger of the introduction of infection
into this country has been increased by the speed of travel.
There is no specific cure for the illness. We must be prepared
to meet this danger Vaccination is the only effective
protective measure Vaccination in infancy provides a basic
immunity and reduces the risk of severe reaction to re-vaccination
in later years. The safe period for the vaccination of babies
is between three and six months of age. A service is available,
free of charge, through medical practitioners and Child Welfare
Clinics.
34