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TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDHOOD. Manifest tuberculosis
is comparatively rare in childhood, though tuberculous
infection which does not go on to recognisable disease is rather
more frequent. When it does occur it takes different forms
from those which are common in adults. Even the pulmonary
cases, in children, are more likely to occur as pleurisies or
affection of the glands in the chest than as destructive lesions
in the lungs themselves; and the chances of recovery, with
careful treatment, are very much better. For this reason it is
important to recognise such cases in their earliest stages, and
to that end there is a close co-operation between the School
Health Service and the Chest Clinic. Dr. Galpin has submitted
the following summary of the work done at the clinic in relation
to school children: —
Number of school children referred by School
Medical Officer 41
Number of school children referred by General
Medical Practitioners 22
Number of school children examined as contacts 89
Number of school children found to be suffering
from tuberculosis 23
The classification and disposal of the definite cases is set
out below: —
Pulmonary
Pleurisy 2
Mediastinal glands 8
Lung primary 5
15 (11 were admitted to
institutions)
Non-Pulmonary
Peritoneum 2
Skin 1
Hip Joint 1
Knee 3
Spine 1
Meninges 1
Cervical glands 1
8 (6 were admitted to
institutions)
SCABIES. The average number of cases of this disease
treated before the war was around 250 a year. Throughout the
war years the disease became very prevalent, and in consequence
special clinics were opened at certain of the baths.
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