London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
West Ham 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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The following table shows the age incidence and case rate per 1,000 population of Scarlet Fever, Measles and Whooping Cough,
| Age | Scarlet | Fever | Measles | Whooping Cough | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | p. | M. | F. | |
| Under 1 year | - | - | 8 | 17 | 19 | 19 |
| 1-4 years | 20 | 9 | 143 | 112 | 63 | 6l |
| 5-9 years | 21 | 32 | 124 | 131 | 51 | 60 |
| 10 - 14 years | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Over 15 years | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 48 | 49 | 282 | 268 | 134 | 142 | |
| 97 | 550 | 276 | ||||
| Case Rate/1,000 population | 0.58 | 3.29 | 1.65 | |||
DIPHTHERIA. Two cases occurred during the early part of the year as compared
with 14 cases for 1955*
MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION. There were three cases of this disease (3 males). The
age incidence was 2 under 1 year and one aged four. There were two deaths.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS. Three cases occurred during the year as compared with 22 in
1955• Two other suspected cases were reported but were found not to be suffering from the
disease. All cases had some degree of paralysis and were admitted to hospital. There were
no deaths.
ERYSIPELAS. Twenty-two cases of this disease were notified, an increase of 4 over the previous year. The age and sex incidence was as followss-
| Age | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 years | 2 | - | |
| 15 - 44 years | 5 | 3 | |
| 45 - 64 years | 3 | 8 | |
| 65 years & over | - | 1 | |
| TOTAL | 10 | 12 |
The occupational incidence for males included a factory worker, a milk roundsman,
a builder's labourer, a crane driver, a machine moulder, an engineer's mate and a wood
machinist; for females, a shop assistant, a cashier, a laundry hand, a bottle washer, a
factory hand, a kitchen hand, and housewives. The seasonal incidence was as below.
January/March 6 cases
April/June 5 cases
July/Sept ember 4 cases
October/December 7 cases
8