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13
Infective Diseases.
Three children who received immunising doses at the Clinics
developed Diphtheria.
As will be seen from the particulars given below, the attack
in each case was only a mild one. In two instances it occurred
before immunity had developed, and in the third case (No. 2),
although the re-test was negative a few days before the attack,
immunity had taken some nine months to develop, and the
attack of Diphtheria was so slight as to be almost negligible.
Case No. 1.—A girl of 13—Schick test positive—
received three doses of Toxoid Anti-toxin mixture at
weekly intervals—developed Diphtheria 2\ months after
the last dose—this was a clinical case and the specific
organism was found on culture—the attack was a mild
one—no re-Schick test was performed.
This child developed Diptheria during the interval required
after immunisation for immunity to develop.
Case No. 2—A boy of 6—Schick test positive—
received three doses of Toxoid Anti-toxin mixture—reSchick
test positive 5 months and negative 9 months
after the last dose—Diphtheritic membrane and virulent
Klebs-Loeffler bacilli found in the throat 16 days after
the last re-test was carried out—the child was ill for only
one day.
The fact that the re-test was positive in 5 months is evidence
that this was a case in which immunity was slow in developing.
It is very uncommon for a child suffering from Diphtheria
to be ill only one day, and it is probable that if he had not been
immunised the attack would have been a virulent one.
Case No. 3.—A girl of 7—Schick test positive—
received three doses of Toxoid Anti-toxin mixture—
developed Diphtheria 5 months and 9 days after the last
dose—membrane present and virulent organisms on culture
—re-Schick test performed on same day as admitted
to hospital was positive—the attack was only a slight
one—has not attended for further re-test.
This child developed the disease before immunity was
established, as shown by the positive re-test.