193. The incidence of gonorrhoea has remained fairly stable, but further control of the disease remains a problem because of difficulty in diagnosis in chronic cases, especially in females. Laboratory methods involving the use of fluorescent microscopy are about to be introduced. Penicillin is normally the first line of treatment but resistance and anaphylaxis continue to increase. Other antibiotics have strict limitations from the points of view of the supervision of administration and of cost. Research into this problem is at present being undertaken.
194. The incidence of early and late latent syphilis continues to fall. This is to be expected if the overall diagnosis and treatment of syphilis over the past ten years has been effective; however, the large influx of immigrants during the year will probably have some affect on the in- cidence of late latent syphilis as it has in other aspects of public health. 195. Ante-natal blood tests for syphilitic infection 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 13
ANTE-NATAL BLOOD TESTS 1956-67
No. of Texts (Clinics &
Hospitals)
1956 19257 19.38
26,083
% of Positive Rate
3.8
27.230 3.5
28.026 3.3
$2.068 2.3
1959 1960 15457 1962
46.932
$1,449 53,954 26
1.6
No. of Tests (Private Mid-
wives)
5.454
4.623
5,583
6,269
% of Positive Matc
3.4
2.7
3.7
2.1
6,805 1.4
6,4401 1.4
4.640
1.2
Cases of congenital syphilis
recorded
Under 1 year
19
Over 1 year
110
E
01
86
131
th
1
10
744
4*
64
196. 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 under review since 1959. Table 14 sets out the results to dale.
Tepr
1959
1960
1961
1962
TABLE 14
VENEREAL DISEASE IN PROSTITUTES
Syphilia Earr Lare Latent Latern
No, of first attendances
V.D. not found
Generelled
692 (63.9)
235 (21.61
952
613 (64.4)
124 (13.0)
585 (72.6)
124 (15.4)
63 (5.8) 69 (7.2) 31 (3.8)
96 (8.3) 146 (15.4)
698 (76.1)
113 (12.5)
44 (4.8)
66 (8.2) (60 [6,5)
ВС
DIT
Pigures in brackets Tepresent the percentage of fat asendances.)
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Leprosy
197. Sixteen clinic sessions are held weekly in nine centres solely for leprosy patients, while two 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 253 new cases of leprosy were treated, of which 113 were leproma- tous, 120 tuberculoid and 20 diamorphous types of infection; 464 con- tacts were also examined. Of the infectious cases. 131, as against 124 in the previous year, were admitted to the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium which is maintained by the Hong Kong Auxiliary of the Mission to Lepers; a very close liaison is maintained between Hei Ling Chau and the Social Hygiene Service.
198. The treatment of surgical deformities in leprosy patients is carried out at the Maxwell Memorial Hospital at the Hei Ling Chau Leprosarium and a small number of cases have also been admitted to certain Government Hospitals. The rehabilitation of disabled non- infectious patients presents a difficult problem to voluntary agency and Government welfare services. The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation has accepted 24 of these patients for trade training.
199. Prostheses devised by the Government Surgical Appliance Centre for patients with disabled and deformed limbs have proved ta be of great benefit to the healing of chronic foot ulcers and the rehabili- tation of the patients.
Dermatology
200. The dermatological clinics held at the nine centres recorded a total of 6,674 cases referred for an opinion. At the Social Hygiene Clinics there were a further 12,917 first attendance for skin complaints, which is 47.4% of the total of new cases seen at these clinics. Appendix 8 shows the incidence of the types of dermatological conditions seen in clinics.
201. The great majority of cases are those of coccal infections, especially in infants, due to the high humidity and a restricted water supply in the community. Self-medication with herbal preparations and the indiscriminate use of patent remedies give rise to another large group of dermatoses.
202. The incidence of industrial dermatoses remains low despite the increasing number of industrial workers in Hong Kong. The incidence of skin malignancy also remains low.
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