INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 127, 3 June 1929, Page 3

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CITY Mt) STJBTJEBS

MEDICAL OFFICER'S .-REVIEW

In his annual report on the health, conditions of Wellington city and suburban districts, Dr. W. F. Findlay, Medical Officer of Health, gives some interesting- particulars with regard to infectious . diseases in the district dnr* ing the period under review. During the year the eases of scarlet fever numbered 663, as compared with 637 notified the previous jear. Thia may appear, says Dr. Findlay, a high incidence, but reference to reports shows a rate of from 50 to 70 and over per 10,000 of .population in Loudon, and from 50 to 60 and over pel; 10,000 in Sydney, whereas in Welling^ ton the rate was 46.49. In Wellington the disease has run true to knowa characteristics, as in London and Sydney, showing years of increased incidence followed by years of comparative quiescence. The monthly incidence in Wellington was as follows:—January, 36; February, 39; March, 85; April, 70; May, 77; June, 61; July, 65; - August, 50; September, 61; October, .35;. Nov£ ember, 48; December, 35. The epidemic showed signs of waning in the last quarter of the year, and subsequent figures show that the crest of the epidemic is well over. The disease continues to be mild in type. The : year's experience further iacreases the belief that many cases are> so mild as to be missed. These 'missed" cases are no doubt a potent factor in propagation. No localised • epidemic of magnitude occurred, although certain schools show increased incidence compared with others. A] study of the reports shows that overcrowding did not appear to be a factor. A table is given of the incidence" m the schools, the highest being Berhampore, 23; Petone Central. 21; Khaa. dallah, 17; Waiwhetu, 17; and Johnson, ville, 17. ... -.., A nurse has not been employed fuH time upon infectious disease ' work* says Dr. Findlay. In'all cases where necessary, however, a school nurse visited affected schools and examined the children, and in some cases the homes. HOME TREATMENT. Fewer cases were sent to hospital than in 1927. Perusal of- the reports does not show that the results as to a second case occurring in the house are any greater where, home treatment was employed than where the case was sent to hospital. Where conditions appeared reasonably good and the request was. maxie for. the--patient to remain at home, permission was generally given. Home treatment is quite in accordance with views; of British authorities. In such cases :the need for strict adherence to precautions was expressly stressed. A departmental pamphlet on tho subject is left" in the home as a routine. In mild epidemics* home treatment appears to be ;: sound, and certainly must result in <; a considerable saving in public hospital costs. There were five deaths.' DANGER IN DELAY.! The cases of diphtheria during the year numbered 396, as compared with 189 in the previous year. There were 132 cases of children of from 1 to 5 years, and 230 cases of children from 5 to 10 years of age. There were 14 deaths. Again experience shows that deaths are, in almost all cases, prao. tically attributable to delay in obtain, ing a medical attendant, or in recognition of the eases. It seems undoubted ■that medical men should swab almost every sore throat, and if in doubt should administer anti-toxin in some cases when waiting for a' bacteriological report. As to immunisation with toxinantitoxin, it is most regrettable that the fatalities in Queensland made it advisable to stop the campaign, of immunisation in various institutions in the metropolitan area, commenced a few months before. Swabbing, • however still appears to be a useful method. TUBERCULOSIS. Notifications showed an increase itf tuberculosis—l 37 as compared with 84 in the previous year; The' deaths numbered 68. As to 'control', of this dig. ease Dr. Findlay says that contact is kept as far as possible with all cases. Every six months the register is checked. The Wellington Hospital Board has now a T.B^ nurse of its own. A few months go he endeavoured,to co-ordin-ate the duties of this nurse with thos«j of the Department's nurses and inspectors, but under conditions as they are at present this was not practicable. He is of" opinion that T.B. Work would be more satisfactory if the hospital board obtained' the services Vof a full-time officer. Arrangements might then be made for the unification of control of patients and contacts. All child con» tacts are followed up by the; school medical officer. This work is increasing and, as tho years go by, there will be a considerable number of children, under observation. It must be remembered, of. eoursaj that a certain proportion of- the citfc zens of Wellington and those of the] surrounding boroughs and counties do not receive pasteurised milk. The ai» rangement with the superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, whereby cases of T.B. (non-pulmonary) are unofficially notified- to the district healtlv office, has been continued, and, where necessary, herds have been investigated. Dr. Findlay states that there was only one ease of enteric fever in Wet lington city and suburban districts during the year, and this case contracted the infection in the Auckland provincial district. '-"■ ,:~ ■■ There were eight cases of eerebro* spinal meningitis, and no deaths. Five cass of poliomyelitis were notified, an<t ther3 were no deaths. As to influenza, that is, septicaemia and fulminant, there were thirteett eases. During the year a fair amount of mild influenza was present, 8om&» times of the gastric type. The nunvber of cases of pneumonia was 147^ compared with 51 the previous yeaiw There were 16 deaths. Nineteen cases of puerperal feve* were imported, compared with 27 is. the previous year. There were three deaths. Although there was .some prevalencei in measles, there was not the prova* leney which existed in the previous! year. One death occurred from whoop* ing-cough. Accommodation for infectious' diseases in Wellington remains the" samei as in the previous year.-For part of the year, accommodation at the Wellington Hospital continued to be taxed as regards scarlet fever. With tho abatement of tho incidence, matters have, ofi course, improved. Tho medical super* intendent of the Wellington Hospital has drawn attention to the need for increased accommodation for tubercular patients. Occasionally instances occur where it is desirable that T^B.' patients living under undesirable conditions should be removed to hospital at th« earliest moment. -%