[Report 1952] / School Medical Officer of Health, Denbighshire County Council.

  • Denbighshire (Wales). County Council. no2004062613.
Date:
1952
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1952] / School Medical Officer of Health, Denbighshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    cpulemic. Although too early to draw conclusions, the de- crease .in the number of cases of \Vhooi)ino- f'ough since the inception of Whooping Cough Immunisation in the County, is ])articularly gratifying. 'I'he number of cases of Paralytic .Acute Pohomyelitis remained at a[)proximately the same level as in, the previous vear. L'nfortunateh', we are still mjt aware of the exact mode of transmission of this disease, and reliance has tu be placetl on empirical principles of hygiene to prevent the spread of this disease. The ensuing paralysis in children is particularlv distressing, and every possible assistance is given to alleviate misfortune and to assist them to surmount the severe handicaps that deprive them of so much. The co- ordination of school and hospital treatment is of paramount imjiortance. Diphtheria Imimunisation. It was gratifying to report that there were no deaths from or any cases of Diphtheria notified during 1951, but, even so, it was appreciated that such a felicitous outcome should not result in a slackening of the Diphtheria Immunisa- tion campaign. 'I'his was emphasised during 1952 by the notification of one case of Diphtheria in a g'irl of 17 years of a.ge. There has been some modification in the policy re- garding immunisation against this disease in this County. The available resources are now concentrated on ensuring that the 0-5 year age group should all be immunised, in- itially at about ei.ght months, and with a booster dose shortly before commencing school. .A high percentage of infants are hnnuinised, but too large a ])ro])ortion of parents neglect tci obtain a booster dose for their children. In future, more attention will’ be concentrated on the 4-5 year grou]), and if the child misses his immunisation at this age, another attem])t will be made during his first year at school. In this way. a large number will be adequately protected through- Ut the most vulnerable years. Tuberculosis. The School Health .Service has maintained a close liaison with the Chest Clinic and the Mass Radiography Unit and, consequently, the additional facilities of both these services are readily available to the Assistant Medical Officers On a diagnosis of fi'uberculosis in a school-child, e.xhaustive en- quiries are instituted, contacts are clinically examined.