Page 241 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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Malaria. Attendance at the clinics shows that approximately 20% of patients
are diagnosed as sulTering from Malaria. This figure is 12% lower for women.
Many women suffering from the complaint are too ill to attend the clinics. They not
uncommonly suffer from severe Malaria for six months to a year before seeking
advice, then they are very ill and in an advanced stage of anaemia.

Eye disease. 20% of all cases attending the clinics suffer from eye disease-
Trachoma, Keratitis, Ophthalmia, Cataraot are the commonest eye complaints. It
is hoped that child welfare clinics and school treatment clinics will help to teach the
people that eye diseases can be cured and need not be a permanent disability.

Ear diseases. This constitutes 20% of cases attending the women’s clinics.
Otorrhea or discharging ears is very common among young children. It is
gratifying to see that the parents are beginning to realise that it can be cured.
Respiratory disease. Bronchial asthma is the commonest respiratory complaint
in the island. The diet of the people, combined with climatic conditions, is
responsible for this. It is particularly common among the Persian community.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Fifteen cases were diagnosed at Naim. The help
of the laboratory is invaluable in diagnosing this complaint as is also an X-Ray
apparatus. Bone, joint, and glandular tuberculosis is found among children,
particularly those who visit the island from Arabia.
Venereal disease. Constitutes . 02% of the diseases treated. Since laboratory
tests have been instituted more accurate diagnosis of these diseases will be possible.
Of 133 blood examinations made for the Klein test for syphilis 84 were positive, i.e.,
64% of the examinations made. A special clinic is held on Wednesday afternoons
for the treament of these diseases. Patients are reluctant to attend for a full
course of treatment and so do not benefit as they should.

Small-Pox. No case of small-pox was reported in Bahrain throughout the
year. Many vaccinations of civilian adults and children were done at the
dispensaries and school children. Boys and girls found unvaccinated at the school
inspections were subsequently vaccinated with the consent of their parents.

Alimentary diseases. Dyspepsia, carious teeth and worms are some of the
complaints treated under this heading. Complete lack of knowledge about personal
hygiene is responsible for these complaints. The care of the teeth is unknown
among the Arabs in Bahrain. Only .06 of patients attended the clinics suffering
from dysentery.

Rheumatic disease. This is common among the adult population. 7.5% of
the school girls were found to be suffering from circulatory disease in Manamah,
one of the results of rheumatic fever.

Gynaecological and Obstetrical diseases. Some remarks must be made on a
gynaecological condition peculiar to women on this island, e.g., Vaginal Atresia.
This is an acquired condition due to the practice prevalent among the Arab
community of using slabs of salt after a confinement. No fewer than 243 patients
sulTering from this complaint came to the clinic at Muharraq. In a total of 84
confinements 79 were found to be suffering from Atresia which complicated the
confinement. This practice causes permanent suffering and disablement to the
patients : it makes child-birth impossible without artificial aid and so contributes to
producing a high maternal and infant mortality rate.