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TYPHOID FEVER. One case was notified and confirmed during the year. A woman of
55 years had been a patient in Plaistow Hospital from 5th-27th July, 1955 with pyrexia
of unknown origin, no diagnosis being established. On discharge she again became unwell
and was re-admitted to Plaistow Hospital in August, when a diagnosis of typhoid fever
was eventually established. Routine epidemiological action by this department in respect
of the only other family contact-her husband-revealed that he was a probable typhoid
carrier, specimens of stool being confirmed for S.typhi on 7.9.55, and Widal agglutination
tests of the 6th and 8th September also producing positive results.
Arrangements were made for his admission to Ilford Isolation Hospital on 12th
September, 1955, where the diagnosis was confirmed. Following treatment in hospital 3
consecutive negative stools and a negatine urine examination were obtained and he was
discharged on 3rd October, 1955. It appears that he returned to work shortly after this
date and evidently did mention the fact that he had been considered a typhoid carrier to
his employers.
Follow up specimens taken by this department on 5th November from both husband and
wife showed that the husband was still positive for S.Typhi. His own doctor, in consultation
with the Infectious Diseases Consultant for the area arranged for the organism to be tested
for sensitivity to antibiotics in the hope that a further course of suitable antibiotic
treatment under domiciliary care might help In clearing the condition.
The husband was permitted to continue his employment as a storekeeper in a steel
firm while he had further treatment from his general practitioner.
PARATYPHOID FEVER. The single case that occurred was a housewife of 56 who had
been in hospital since April for chronic rheumatoid arthritis and there developed loose
watery stools at the end of June. Examination of stools showed Paratyphoid B organisms
and she was transferred to an Isolation Hospital. Further investigation showed the
organism to be Phage type Dundee. The organism was cleared with difficulty after two
courses of treatment with different drugs.
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