View report page

Scarlet Fever.
Owing to the increased prevalence of diphtheria, two
of the wards normally allocated to scarlet fever were
occupied during the greater part of the year by diphtheria patients.
In consequence there was not sufficient accommodation to admit all
the scarlet fever cases notified. Many had to be treated in their
own homes, and even the cases admitted had frequently to be isolated
at home for some days while waiting for a vacant bed in the
Hospital. Thirty per cent, of the cases had been ill for six days or
longer on admission. The general type of the disease was mild.
Only three per cent, of the total admissions were classified as
severe. Scarlet fever antitoxin was administered to the severe
cases, but although it reduced the early toxaemia it did not prevent
the onset of later complications in some of them.
The total number of cases under treatment was 1,047, which
is a drop of 860 from the number of the previous year. Of these,
918 recovered, 3 died, and 126 remained under treatment at the
end of the year. Two of the fatal cases were suffering from the
"septic" type of the disease, and one was complicated by measles
and broncho-pneumonia; their ages were 6, 5, and 2 years respectively.
In 71 cases the disease was complicated by the presence of
other infections as follows :—
Scarlet Fever with Nasal Diphtheria 42 cases
,, ,, ,, Faucial Diphtheria 11 ,,
„ ,, „ Whooping Cough 7 ,,
,, ,, ,, Measles 6 ,,
,, ,, ,, Chickenpox 3 ,,
,, ,, ,, Mumps 2 ,,
69 cases showed no definite signs of the disease on admission
or afterwards, and 8 of these contracted the infection in the wards.
10 cases admitted as diphtheria and 2 as measles proved to be
suffering from scarlet fever.
21 cases admitted as scarlet fever proved to be wrongly diagnosed,
and were found after admission to be suffering from the
following complaints :—Measles, 5; Septic Rash, 3; Erythema, 4;
Dermatitis, 1 ; Para-typhoid Fever, 1; Pneumonia, 1 ; No disease,
5 ; Septic throat, 2.
Complications.
Of the 918 cases discharged during the year, 213, or 23.19
per cent., suffered from complications as follows:—
Adenitis 49 cases or 5.33 per cent.
Albuminuria 43 ,, ,, 4.68 ,, ,,
Arthritis 22 ,, ,, 2.39 ,, ,,
Endocarditis 5 ,, ,, .54 ,, ,,
84