[Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, Brighton County Borough.

  • Brighton (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, Brighton County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/56 (page 7)
    Poliomyelitis—During the widespread epidemic of 1947, when there were 7,766 confirmed cases in the country, 29 cases with 2 deaths occurred in Brighton. In 1948 there were 1,848 cases in the country, and 2 occurred in Brighton. In the year under review, however, there was a recrudescence of this disease, and 5,969 cases were notified, and in Brighton the number of notifications was 37 : fortunately many were of a mild nature and recovered with no ensuing paralysis. 34 were admitted to the Isolation Hospital and 3 mild cases were treated at home. There were 3 deaths, one in a child of 4J years, and 2 in adults, a male and a female, both aged 27 years. These cases were distributed throughout the Borough. The notifications of cases were received as follows : in April 1, June 1, July 3, August 3, September 5, October 13, November 9, December 2. Of the 34 cases treated in hospital, 9 were discharged cured, 6 discharged home with slight muscular weakness, to attend as out- patients for exercises, etc., 16 were transferred to hospitals for physio- therapy : 3 died. The age distribution of the cases was : Under 1 year 1-3 years 10-15 15-25 ,, 25 and over MALE FEMALE TOTAL 3 2 5 2 13 6 2 8 3 4 7 4-4 4 6 10 22 15 37 Further details as to the incidence in school children are given in the School Health Report, attached. DipMheria~Oi the 10 (29) notified cases of the disease, 4 were under 5 years of age, 3 between 5 and 15 years, and 3 of 15 years and over. There were no deaths. Of those under 5 years, 2 had completed a lull course oi immuniza- tion ; of those between 5 and 15 years, 1 had completed a full couise oi immunization ; of those over 15 years, 1 had completed a full course ; 6 had not been immunized. Scarlet Fever—Oi a total of 191 (150) patients notified 85, or 45%, were removed to hospital ; there were no return cases, and no deaths. Measles—The number of cases notified by doctors was 791. The total number known to the Department was 821. There were no deaths. Whooping Cough—There were 266 known cases in 213 houses. Of these, 202 were notified by doctors. There were no deaths. -Scabies and Verminous Cases—Nineteen cases of scabies were treated at the Brighton General Hospital and 121 children with this complaint were treated at the School Clinic.