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I should like to thank the sohool medical officers for referring the children to
me, and the family doctors for allowing them to do so. I should also like to acknowledge
the great assistance I have received from my colleagues at Whipps Cross Hospital, Dr.Waither,
Pathologist, and Dr.Tettmar, Radiologist. I am particularly grateful to the latter, who
agreed to x-ray the children for me, when St.Mary's Hospital, Plaistow, regretfully found
themselves compelled to withdraw their facilities.
The paediatric clinics are administered by the West Ham Group of the Hospital
Management Committee but are held on the West Ham Education Committee premises as follows:-
Stratford School Clinic, Thursdays from 1.30 to 5.15 p.m.
84, West Ham Lane, E.15.
Rosetta School Clinic, Wednesdays from 1.30 to 5.15 p.m.
Sophia Road, Custom House, E.16. (every fortnight)
During the year 76 school children made 230 attendances at the paediatric clinics.
TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDHOOD
The number of children in whom active tuberculosis is found remains comparatively
small.
A summary of the work of the West Ham Chest Clinic in relation to school children
has kindly been contributed by Dr.D.J.Lawless, the Consultant Chest Physician.
No. of school children referred by sohool medical officers 2
No. of school children referred by general practitioners 152
No. of school children examined as new contacts 130
No. of school children found to be suffering from tuberculosis 7
These seven children were all admitted to hospital and were all suffering from respiratory
tuberculosis. They were classified as follows
Active primary pulmonary tuberculosis 6
Adult type of active bi-lateral pulmonary tuberoulosis 1
B.C.G. VACCINATION
The clinical trial of the efficacy of B.C.G. vaccination which was organised by
the Medical Research Council and which include West Ham school children is still in
progress, and the follow up work is continuing. Approximately 1,100 home visits were
made by the school nurses during 1957 in connection with this research project.
Since June 1956 all school-leavers who have not acquired immunity against
tuberculosis (as indicated by their reaction to the skin test) are offered B.C.G.
vaccination.
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