London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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West Ham 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

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Scarlet Fever.
The number of cases notified as scarlet fever which were
admitted during the year was 546. In 24 of these, or 4.39 per
cent., the diagnosis was changed after admission. A scarlatiniform
rash was present in 78 per cent. of the cases on the day of
admission. In 16 per cent. of these, however, no desquamation
was detected afterwards. Nine per cent. of the cases showed no
rash or desquamation during their period of residence, and among
these 4 cases developed scarlet fever in the wards. A relapse
occurred in 3 cases in which the diagnosis had been confirmed
after admission.
Seventy-one patients were in residence at the beginning of
the year, making a total of 598 cases under treatment. Of these,
516 were discharged, 3 died, and 74 remained under treatment
at the end of the year.

The duration of illness on the day of admission of the cases which were discharged or died is shown in the following Table:—

Day of Illness1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7thLater
No. of cases1311713910857401332
Per cent. of total2.5022.5426.7820.8110.987.712.506.17

The average duration of illness on admission was 3.79 days.
Corrected diagnosis:—The '24 cases in which the diagnosis
was amended after admission were found to be suffering from the
following complaints:—Toxic rash, 7; transient erythema, 4;
dentition rash, 1; gastro-enteritis, 1; septicaemia, 1; measles, 0;
tonsillitis, 4.
Five cases admitted as diphtheria proved to be suffering from
scarlet fever,
Natality rate: Of the 3 cases which proved fatal, a girl aged
15 years developed pericarditis, another girl aged 2 years, suffered
from septic scarlet fever, and a boy aged 8 years died from
broncho-pneumonia.
Scarlet fever antitoxin was administered intramuscularly to
68 of the more severe cases which were admitted within the first
three days of illness. The dosage varied from 10 to 80 c.c.'s, the
average being 20 c.c.'s.
Of the 516 cases discharged, 196, or 38 per cent., suffered
from one or more complications, as follows:—
124