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Many children are affected each year with plantar warts. This year 86 children
received treatment. The incidence is three times greater among girls than among boys,
and the incidence increases with age in both sexes. It is at its maximum between 11 and
14 years. Similarly, children attend the minor ailment clinics in the summer with ringworm
of the feet (athlete's foot). Fifteen cases received treatment this year. Stress
is laid on preventive measures.
Minor ailments of the eyes. These are mainly external diseases such as various
forms of conjunctivitis, sore eyelids, small cysts of the eyelids, minor injuries and
foreign bodies. Conjunctivitis is the most frequent of the above mentioned conditions, and
106 of them received treatment at the minor ailment clinic this year. In a few cases
external eye disease indicates eyestrain, debility, or unhygienic surroundings. Eyestrain
can cause tired eyes, and these are rubbed more than usual; hence inflammation results.
With a general improvement in living conditions, in hygiene generally, and in the health
of the children, these diseases of the external eye are seen much less frequently than
formerly, and when they are met with they are not so severe. Some of the children who
suffer from the more severe diseases of the external eye are referred to the ophthalmic
clinic for specialist attention.
Minor allments of the ears. These consist of small boils in the outer passage,
the accumulation of wax in the ears (which is the roost common cause of hearing loss), the
slighter degrees of earache and discharging ear, and finally, foreign bodies (chiefly
met with in the younger children). As with minor eye diseases these conditions are much
less common than formerly: also they are not so severe. As a result of the routine
audiometric tests carried out at schools, children who failed to pass the hearing test
are referred to the school medical officer for investigation. These cases are increasing
in number and may account for the decrease in the number of ear conditions seen at school
clinics. The more serious conditions require specialist attention, and are referred,
subject to agreement with the child's family doctor, to the ear, nose and throat specialist.
Miscellaneous conditions. These form the bulk of the cases treated and consist
of a very mixed collection such as bruises, sprains and strains, abrasions and lacerations,
boils, whitlows, chilblains, cuts, sores, and minor injuries of various kinds.
The above cases form the main mass of work at minor ailment clinics. They are
treated by the nurses under the supervision of the medical officers. The following figures
give the number of cases which were seen at the clinics during the year for:-
Skin Diseases 808
External Eye Diseases 164
Minor Ear Conditions 104
Miscellaneous Conditions 1,230
Total: 2,306
The total number of children who attended the three clinics was as follows:-
Clinic New Cases
Stratford 985
Balaam Street 1,144
Rosetta 1,292
Total: 3,421
98