Bronchiolitis epidemic: Hospitalizations rebound “at very high levels”

virus 6,882 children under two went to the emergency room for bronchiolitis in mainland France during the week of November 14 to 20

[] Pour la troisième semaine consécutive, la moitié des hospitalisations suite à un passage aux urgences chez les enfants de moins de 2 ans concerne la bronchiolite.

👉 Pour consulter le bulletin https://t.co/o47Zvo9HYk pic.twitter.com/oYtgE154hN

— SantépubliqueFrance (@SantePubliqueFr)

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+24% in one week

In total, 6,882 children under the age of two went to the emergency room for bronchiolitis in mainland France during the week of November 14 to 20, a jump of 24% compared with to the previous week. Some 2,552 children were eventually hospitalized. The intensity of the epidemic is more marked in mainland France and Guadeloupe, according to Santé; Public France. Two weeks ago, the agency had reported; visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations at; record levels « for more than a decade.

Common and highly contagious, bronchiolitis causes babies to cough and have difficult, rapid, wheezing breathing. If it is distressing for young parents, it is most of the time benign. In some cases, it may require a visit to the emergency room, or even hospitalization.

Crisis in pediatric emergencies

This epidemic has struck pediatric emergencies plunged into a crisis linked to unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of staff. Under pressure, the Minister of Health triggered a fortnight ago a national emergency plan, says ORSAN, planned for exceptional health situations, in order to « further strengthen the resources of the ARS (Regional Health Agencies) and allow the entire hospital to focus on this particularly acute problem today ».

François Braun had announced previously new measures, particularly for pediatric services, for a total amount of approximately 400 million euros. With this early and intense epidemic, the « pediatric offices are also in a situation of saturation, » Brigitte Virey, president of the National Syndicate of French Pediatricians, last week in the newspaper Le Monde.