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Intussusception and the great smog of London, December 1952

J Black1

  • 1dorothyblack@suffolkonline.net

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

The Great Smog of London in 1952 coincided with a rise in childhood intussusception cases. This suggests environmental pollutants may facilitate viral entry, increasing the risk of this serious intestinal condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Intussusception is a significant cause of intestinal obstruction in infants and young children.
  • The Great Smog of London in 1952 was a severe air pollution event with widespread public health consequences.

Observation:

  • A notable increase in intussusception cases was observed in East London hospitals during 1952.
  • A distinct clustering of these cases occurred immediately before, during, and after the period of the Great Smog.

Findings:

  • The total incidence of intussusception in 1952 significantly surpassed that of surrounding years.
  • The temporal association suggests a potential link between the smog event and the observed rise in intussusception.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest that environmental irritants, like those in smog, may compromise the intestinal barrier, potentially facilitating viral infections leading to intussusception.
  • This highlights the need for further research into the environmental triggers of pediatric intussusception and the impact of air quality on child health.
Abstract

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