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Infective Diseases.
25
period which elapses between the administration of the immunising
injections and the full establishment of immunity, if exposure
to infection occurs. Parents should be warned on this point.
For the same reason, if immunisation is delayed until an epidemic
of Diphtheria occurs it may easily be carried out too late to prevent
infection.
Four children who have received immunising injections at
the Centres have developed Diptheria. As will be seen from
the particulars given below the attack in three of the cases was
a mild one. In two cases it occurred before immunity had
developed. In 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. In No. 4, the attack was a severe
one and occurred 2 years after the immunising injections had
been given in a child who had not been re-tested.
Case No. 1.—A girl of 13—Schick Test positive—
received 3 doses of Toxoid Anti-toxin mixture at weekly
intervals—developed Diphtheria 2½ 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. (Off Register.)
This child developed Diphtheria during the interval required
after immunisation for immunity to develop.
Case No. 2—A boy of 6—Schick Test positive—
received 3 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. (Off Register.)
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