The winter flu epidemic remains moderate for the number of affected patients, but is remarkable for its great brutality. At the time of the doctors’ vacations, this rapidity of installation telescopes, in children, with other epidemics, emergencies are overwhelmed.
According to latest weekly newsletter from the influenza surveillance network, the Sentinel network, for the week of 25 to 31/12/17, the flu epidemic continues in metropolitan France, Corsica remained in a pre-epidemic situation.
Not yet at the peak
In metropolitan France, last week, the incidence rate of cases of influenza syndromes seen in general medicine consultation was estimated at 527 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, or 343,000 new cases for the week. During these 3 weeks of flu epidemic, 704,000 people would have consulted a general practitioner for this reason.
At the regional level, the highest incidence rates were observed in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (778 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (683 cases) and Normandy (593 cases). Almost all of the metropolitan regions have strong activity, except Corsica. The average age is 30 and the disease affects both men and women. The virus most often encountered is the A (H1N1) virus which is included in the vaccine of the year, followed by A (H3N2).
An epidemic without major danger
The number of people who saw a general practitioner for influenza rose from 355,000 to 704,000 last week. An epidemic therefore within the usual limits, but the peak of the flu has not been reached and the frequency of medical consultations should continue to increase in the coming weeks.
What is quite unusual this year is the very rapid rise in the number of emergency room visits over the past 3 weeks: in the week of December 25 to 31, Public Health France recorded nearly 11,500 emergency room visits for flu or flu syndrome, an increase of more than 80% compared to the previous week. No excess mortality
No excess mortality
Santé Publique France reports 31 deaths since November 1, mainly among serious cases of influenza admitted to intensive care.
However, the percentage of hospitalization remains low (0.2%).
In this regard, the agency recalls that there is still time to be vaccinated. Even if the protection of the vaccine does not play 100%, we know that the majority of the most serious patients, who are in intensive care, are patients who are not vaccinated.
Other concomitant epidemics
The gastroenteritis epidemic has also progressed in the territory compared to the previous week. Seven regions are now in the epidemic phase (Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica), six in the pre-epidemic phase, and only one remains spared (Pays de la Loire).
The bronchiolitis epidemic which affects children under two is also progressing: it has caused 4,600 emergency room visits and 715 SOS Médecins visits (respectively 6 and 11% more than the previous week). All the regions are in the “epidemic phase”, with the exception of Île-de-France, which left after being affected earlier than the other regions.
When to consult a doctor ?
When these symptoms appear, it is not necessary to rush to the hospital or to the doctor. Favor a consultation with the doctor if it is an infant, if you are pregnant or over 65 years old, or in the event of chronic disease (diabetes, cardiac, respiratory or renal failure …)
It is also necessary to consult if there is a sudden worsening and in the absence of improvement after 72 hours.
When to go to the emergency room?
On the other hand, it is necessary to go directly to the emergency room if the flu appears very aggressive with a high fever of over 40 ° C or not well tolerated, and in the event of unusual signs: shortness of breath at rest or difficulty in breathing, productive cough with sputum. purulent appearance, tightness in the chest, great difficulty in moving, very stiff neck, feeling confused, convulsions.
Even if you don’t have to go to the emergency room “for nothing”, the flu is obviously not an illness to be taken lightly.
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