213. Appendix 8 details the classification and relative frequency of the skin conditions seen. There is a close liaison maintained with the Industrial Health Officer and dermatological conditions known or suspected to be due to industrial hazards are notified to him.
Venereal Diseases
214. Sixty one clinic sessions are conducted each week, including two new sessions for females started during the year. There was a total of 182,049 attendances of which 25,819 were new cases. Of the latter 36.2% attended on account of venereal disease, 16% were proved not to have venereal disease, and 47.2% were first attendances with skin complaints not related to venereal disease or leprosy.
215. At Appendix 7 is the annual incidence and trend of disease for which patients attended the Social Hygiene Clinics over the past 11 years. During 1961 there were 35 cases of primary and 26 cases of secondary syphilis: the total of cases of syphilis, numbering 1,606, showed a 26% reduction of the total for the previous year. The incidence of gonorrhoea was the lowest on record in the eleven year period and there was a marked drop in the incidence of chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum.
216. Ante-natal blood tests are carried out as a routine on pregnant women attending Maternal and Child Health Centres. The following table shows the results over the past seven years. The value of this routine investigation is reflected in the low figures for congenital syphilis in babies under one year.
TABLE 16
THE TARLE SHOWS RESULTS OF THOSE TESTS OVER A 7-YEAR PERIOD
1955
19.56
1957
1958
1939 1960 1961
No. of tests Clinics &
Hospitals
23,716
%% of Positive Rate
4.3
36,083 3.8
17,330 3.5
28,026 3.3
46,931 2.6
$2.068 2.3
No. of tests Private Mid-
wives
of Positive Kate
5,439 4.2
5.464 3.4
4,623
1.
$,583 3.1
6,269 23
6,805 1.9
$1,449 1.6
6,940
1.4
217. The incidence of venereal disease in prostitutes who attend voluntarily at the Social Hygiene Clinics either through contact tracing or for periodic investigation has been the subject of investigation since 1959. During 1957, owing to the increasing numbers of cases of peni- cillin anaphylaxis, the prophylactic treatment of prostitutes was discon- tinued. Since that time there has been a relative increase in the incidence of gonorrhoea. Table 17 sets out the results to-date.
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TABLE 17
VENEREAL DISEASE IN PROSTITUTES
Syphilly
Latent
No, of frui
Year
V.D. not found Gonorrhoea
trendetheat
Early Lurear
19:59
1.086
692 (63.8)
335 (216)
63 (5.8)
96 ( 8.8)
19460
952
613 (64.4)
124 (13.0)
69 (7.2)
146 (15.4)
B06
385 (72.6)
124 (15.4)
31 (3.8)
66 (8.2)
1961
218.
(Figures in bracken represent the percentage of Best attendance.)
Default from treatment of venereal diseases still continues to be
a problem and follow-up is made first by letter and then by visit. By letter, there was 27.8% of success, the highest figure since 1956. By visit there was 21.5% of success amongst females and 24% of success amongst males. Female social hygiene visitors paid a total of 14,000 visits to contacts and defaulters, while their male counterparts paid 2.939 visits. An almoning service has also been available to male put- patients and female inpatients throughout the year.
219. Penicillin remains the treatment of choice for both syphilis and gonorrhoea, but the slightest sign of intolerance is followed by an in- mediate change of therapy. No deaths from anaphylactic shock were recorded during the year.
220. In common with other notifiable diseases, the notifications of venereal disease received do not give a precise indication of incidence. Many patients receive treatment from sources other than the Govern- ment clinics and the figures recorded above apply only to the work of the Social Hygiene Clinics.
Leprosy
221. Sixteen clinic sessions are held weekly in nine centres solely for leprosy patients, while two other sessions each week are held in conjunction with other social hygiene clinics; in addition, one session is devoted to the care of leprosy patients suffering from trophic ulcers. During the year, 124 infectious cases, the same number as in the previous year, were admitted to the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium which is main- lained by the Hong Kong Auxiliary of the Mission to Lepers; a very close liaison with this institution, which is referred to in paragraphs 334 to 336 of this report, is maintained by the Social Hygiene Services.
222. For routine outpatient treatment at the Leprosy Clinics, dapsone remains the drug of choice and is administered orally or intramuscularly; if there is intolerance to dapsone, diphenyl thiourea is exhibited instead.
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