Proceedings: Evaluation of social work in the mental health field.

Abstract

Society for Social Medicine pattern of the disease in Southampton, which shows a peak of frequency in September-October, does not correspond with the pattern of isolation of haemolytic streptococci from throat swabs. These findings suggest that streptococcal infection is not a factor in the aetiology of most cases of the disease. Data from four other areas of Britain show a varying seasonal pattern, but a trough in frequency in July-August is a constant finding. It has been suggested that the disease may result from hypersensitivity to organisms other than haemolytic streptococci which cause upper respiratory tract infection. Of the Southampton patients 63 % gave a history of upper respiratory infection in the month preceding admission compared with 50% of a control group. The geographical distribution of the disease within the city showed only a slight correlation between incidence and overcrowding. This finding does not support the hypothesis that a contagious disorder such as respiratory infection is important in the aetiology of the disease.