Epidemiology of haemolytic streptococcal infection in relation to acute rheumatism: I. Haemolytic streptococcal epidemic and first appearance of rheumatism in a training centre

Abstract

1. The circumstances attending an outbreak of haemolytic streptococcal infection in a training centre, followed by acute rheumatism, are described.2. The incidence of streptococcal infections in trained men and apprentices was 64 and 474 per 1000 respectively.3. Of streptococcal infections 78·0% occurred in members of two younger classes of apprentices.4. The eight cases of acute rheumatism were all in apprentices, seven cases being in the same two classes. All but one case had had tonsillitis or scarlatina during the epidemic.5. The smallest percentage of post-epidemic Dick-positive reactors was found in the youngest class which had suffered most in the outbreak.