After the holidays, a bad surprise awaits us. The Sentinels surveillance network, which reports a high level of activity in acute diarrhea, forecasts a gradual increase which should exceed the epidemic threshold in early January. Translation : gastroenteritis is on our doorstep. Characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting for two to three days, this unpleasant infection can also manifest as headache, body aches, fever and fatigue.
Because of the dehydration it can cause, gastroenteritis can weaken children and the elderly. To avoid getting infected, some hygiene measures must be observed such as: wash your hands regularly with soap, do not share glasses and cutlery and use special precautionary measures for people who are already sick, without forgetting to drink plenty of water to avoid any complications.
The Sentinels doctors, who monitor epidemics throughout France, assessed the incidence rate of cases of acute diarrhea via general medical consultations and drug sales data. In their last bulletin, these two factors reached their alert threshold, corresponding to a pre-epidemic level. The regions most affected at the moment are Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Limousin. If this diarrhea affects both men and women, the median age of patients is 18 years.
