[Report 1959] / School Medical Officer of Health, Oldham County Borough.
- Oldham (England). County Borough Council. nb2004302054.
- Date:
- 1959
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1959] / School Medical Officer of Health, Oldham County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Infectious diseases again caused no real concern. Measles was prevalent during the first six months of the year, the majority of cases occurring in Infant Departments. There were 36 cases of whooping cough notified and of these 5 had received protective injections against whooping cough. These cases should not occur and can be prevented if parents will only go to the trouble of having their children protected against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. The Health Visitors do yeoman service in urging immunisation to the mothers they meet in the centres and at home. Unfortunately some mothers and fathers cannot be persuaded, and others are too indolent to bring their children to our clinics or to consult their own doctor. It is indeed gratifying to report that no case of poliomyelitis occurred and that vaccination against this disease has been pursued with vigour and with success. There were 4 cEises of pulmonary tuberculosis notified and accepted and all made satisfactory progress, three returning to school before the end of the year. Only 2 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were brought to notice, both being cases of tuberculous meningitis. It is with regret that I have to record that one of these children died—a girl of twelve years. In spite of full inquiry and investigation the source of infection wels not ascertained and fortunately no further case of tuberculosis occurred among the close contacts. This case is fully reported. I would refer you to the details of medical inspection and treatment contained in the body of the Report. Orthopaedic defects, and nose and throat defects show the greatest incidence, 34.75 and 31.13 respectively among every thousand children examined. These figures may give a wrong impression of the health of our school children as they include a fairly large number of minor defects requiring observation or very simple treatment. It can be said without any degree of doubt that our children today are indeed hale and hearty and this especially applies to the girls. For formal proof only two children were classed as “unsatisfactory” on examination. Tests for colour vision using the Ishihara Charts were continued and again a number of boys (36) were found to have a colour vision defect but the girls appear markedly less prone to this particular defect—only 1 being found with a defect. The school nurses continued their ‘uncleanliness inspections’ but the percentage of children found to be infested in some degree remains constant, varying round a figure of 6 per cent. This is disappointing but it is gratify¬ ing that gross infestation is now comparatively rare. It is difficult to reduce this ‘hard core’ but persistent pressure is maintained on the ‘chronic’ offenders. There haa been no change in the facilities for treatment and close co-operation has been maintained with the staff of the local hospitals. At the end of the year 57 children were on the waiting list for tonsil and adenoids operation. 'This may seem a formidable number, but many of these children can be kept waiting for some months without any material harm. Scabies sprang into sudden prominence—55 school children requiring treat¬ ment—the highest number for some years. It is gratifying to report that the Orthoptic Clinic functioned efficiently throughout the year, but the Speech Clinic was closed from the end of July following the resignation of Miss Woodhead. The deaths occurring among school children have again been reco]^ed and for the year total, 8. Of these deaths, 4 were due to accidents, 2 being caused by road accidents and 2 being associated with childish play and adventure. Of the remaining deaths, 1 was due to an acute abdominal emergency, 1, which has already been discussed, due to tuberculous menin¬ gitis and in the other 2 cases death occurred shortly after admission to hospital, the illness being of very brief duration.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29937577_0007.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
