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
Sutton and Cheam 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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Whooping Coughs Eighty six cases were notified in 1957,
compared with sixty six cases in 1956. The case rate was 1.09
per thousand of population, compared with 1.88 per thousand of
population for England and Wales. There was no death.
The general incidence was low. The highest prevalence was
in the West Central and North East Wards. Thirty three of the
cases were infants under five years of age and five were under
one year.
The monthly incidence of notified cases is shown in the following table-
| January | 11 | July | 8 |
| February | 8 | August | 7 |
| March | 8 | September | 3 |
| April | 17 | October | - |
| May | 13 | November | 1 |
| June | 9 | December | 1 |
Whooping Cough is a serious infection in early infancy.
The cough imposes a severe strain on the lung tissues. The
danger of mortality is highest in the first three months of life
and diminishes with age. Every effort should be made to protect
babies and weakly infants from contact with infection. There
has been a further improvement in the efficiency of vaccines
which should give consistent and substantial protection.
Immunisation should commence not later than three months of age.
it is important that older susceptible children in the family
should be immunised in order to protect the baby. Every child
should be immunised before entry to school. During 1957 eight
children who had received injections of vaccine since 1952 were
notified as suffering from Whooping Cough. Five were assessed
as slight and three as of moderate severity. in all these cases
the frequency and severity of the cough was reduced.
Health Visitors are informed of notified cases of children
under five years of age so that they may give advice where
necessary.
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 1957 seven hundred and sixty four children
received immunising injections. The material used wasH. 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. One hundred and one
children were given reinforcing injections during 1957.
Small Pox. No case was notified.
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