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EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DEFECTS: DEFECTIVE HEARING. The specialist Ear, Nose
and Throat clinics established in 1947 have proved a marked success and have kept
the surgeon in charge very fully occupied.
The total number of tonsil and adenoid operations known to have been performed
during the year was 146 (as against 4l8 last year). In addition, 145 children
(as against 123 last year) were treated non-operatively. As pointed out by Mr.Scott
in his report it has not been possible to obtain reliable figures of tonsil and
adenoid operations this year and doubtless other children have been treated without
coming to our notice. These statistics do however undoubtedly indicate a real
reduction in the number of operations performed, doubtless, owing to the long period
of suspension of treatment during the prevalence of poliomyelitis. The problem of
obtaining accurate figures under the new regime introduced by the National Health
Service still remains to be solved,, Five hundred and seventy four children
(567 last year) were treated for various conditions affecting the ears (some of these
treatments were given at minor ailments clinics). Details of the ascertainment
of deaf children are given on page 55.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT CLINICS, 1949
by Mr.C.J.SCOTT, M.B„, Ch.Bo, D.L.O.
The Ear, Nose and Throat Clinics in the Borough of West Ham were continued on
similar lines to previous years and the sources of supply of patients were similar.
There were no outstanding problems during the year and the attendances on the
whole were satisfactory.
The accompanying chart shows an analysis of the cases seen. While it is not
possible rigidly to separate the cases into exact groups, the chart is concerned with
the particular affection in each case.
There was a marked rise in the number of ear cases examined in the month of
March. As quite a large number of these are cases of secretory otitis media, the
possibility of an allergic factor operating is significant, and a comparable
investigation in 1950 will be worth while.
It was not possible to determine the number of West Ham school children who
had operations for tonsils and adenoids in the hospital owing to a change in the
recording system.
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