[Report 1937] / School Medical Officer of Health, Cambridgeshire County Council.

  • Cambridgeshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1937] / School Medical Officer of Health, Cambridgeshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/48 (page 9)
    The increase in the number of cases of ringworm of the scalp noted in 193G has not been maintained and the figure has again fallen to insignificance, especially in comparison with the trouble- some part which this condition played in school children in former years. The number of cases of ringworm of the body has increased slightly, but this form of the disease is comparatively amenable to treatment and shows little tendency to spread through a school. The number of cases of scabies is again low and no doubt reflects the general improvement in the cleanliness of children nowadays, for it is a comparative rarity. The very considerable increase in the number of cases of impetigo is a matter for extreme regret, however, but the explanation is not apparent. This figure has not been so high since 1933. Cases are excluded from school as soon as recognised, but the disease is very contagious and is easily spread from child to child. How far the use of common towels plays a part in this is problematical, but there can be no doubt that if some scheme could be devised whereby each child could have the use of a separate towel, the risk of spread of contagious skin conditions would be considerably diminished. Apart from this, however, impetigo shows unexplained fluctuations in epidemicity comparable with that shown by other forms of streptococcal disease (scarlet fever, erysipelas and puerperal septicaemia). Following-up.—The figures set out hereunder give gome account of the work under this head during 1937. The general arrangements .are the same as those of previous years. Visits to Schools:— (a) Eoutine Medical Inspection 205 (b) Verminous Inspections 353 (e) Other purposes 1192 1750 Visits to Homes of Scholars: — (a) Following-up to secure treatment 7073 (b) Special enquiries into infectious and contagious diseases 2054 (c) Special enquiries into refusal of dental treatment 2562 (d) Other purposes 825 12514 Except under the heading 1 (c) there has beep an increase in every category and the total number of visits is greater than that of the previous year by 1,948. The figure for verminous inspection shows a particularly large increase, owing to the fact that regular quarterly inspections have replaced the special inspections of former years.