Emergency room visits and hospitalizations of children with bronchiolitis continue to increase in recent days. This year, the epidemic figures are particularly high.
- The virus responsible for bronchiolitis causes inflammation of the small bronchi and increased secretions.
- Coughing and wheezing are the most common symptoms.
- The virus is transmitted by saliva, coughing, sneezing but it can also remain on objects.
The bronchiolitis epidemic started earlier this year in France, and it is reaching record levels. According to latest bulletin Public Health France, the figures for visits to emergencies and hospitalizations related to the disease are at higher levels than in recent years. According to the organization, these thresholds have not been reached for more than ten years. Between October 31 and November 6, 6,891 children under the age of two were seen in the emergency room because of bronchiolitis. Hospitalizations, having followed a visit to the emergency room because of the disease, represent half of the hospitalizations of children under two years of age in France. “In comparison, this percentage was around 40% during the peaks of previous seasons.specifies Public Health France.
Bronchiolitis epidemic: the white plan launched in France
Faced with these very high levels of hospitalizations, the Minister of Health, François Braun announced the launch of a white plan in hospitals. “As every winter, bronchiolitis induces an increased demand on our health system, which occurs in a context where our hospital structures are already weakened by two and a half years of health crisis and significant recruitment difficulties.“, specifies the ministry in a communicated. Called the “ORSAN” plan for “organization of the response of the health system in exceptional health situations”, its objective is to “strengthen the capacity of health authorities to guarantee a coordinated response in each territory”, or give more resources to the regions so that they can provide care for sick children. Throughout the country, the alert threshold is at its maximum level, however, Santé Publique France underlines an intensity “globally more marked” in the regions of the northern half of France.
In general, “bronchiolitis heals spontaneously after 5 to 10 days”
According to the Ministry of Health, approximately 30% of children under the age of two are affected by the disease each year. This respiratory infection, caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is responsible for seasonal epidemics which generally start in mid-October, with a peak in December. In adults and children over two years of age, infection with this virus is usually asymptomatic, but in the youngest it can be serious. First it manifests as a cold, then the cough can become more severe and wheezing. “In the majority of cases, bronchiolitis resolves spontaneously after 5 to 10 days, but the cough may persist for 2 to 4 weeks., says the Ministry of Health. In case of severe difficulty breathing, refusal to eat, drowsiness or discomfort, go to the emergency room or dial 15. To limit contamination, it is recommended to wear a mask when you are sick , wash your hands regularly and avoid contact.