October 28, 2023

Each year, 30% of infants under 2 years old are affected by bronchiolitis, during winter epidemics which extend from October to February. On October 11, 2023, Santé Publique France informed in its weekly bulletin of the start of the increase in cases in France. This trend undoubtedly marks the start of the 2023-2024 bronchiolitis epidemic. With one question this year: will the new preventive drug be able to reduce the scale of the epidemic?

One in 3 infants affected by bronchiolitis every winter

The bronchiolitis, mainly due to infection by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), is feared by all young parents, as well as by pediatric emergency services. Every year, Public health France closely monitors seasonal respiratory infections, bronchiolitis, but also influenza and Covid-19. The latest weekly bulletin published by the agency, dated October 11, 2023, reports an increase in cases of bronchiolitis in France.

This bulletin indicates that during week 40, cases of bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old increased compared to week 39, for the three indicators considered: SOS doctors’ medical procedures, visits to emergencies and hospitalizations following going to the emergency room. Several French regions have passed in a pre-epidemic situationand three territories (the Ile-de-France region and two overseas territories (Guadeloupe and Martinique)) have passed in an epidemic situation.

The arrival of a new preventive drug

It seems like the bronchiolitis epidemic 2023-2024 or in the process of setting up everywhere in France. This winter epidemic will be particularly closely monitored this year, following the marketing of a new preventive treatment, nirvesimab. From summer 2023, the High Authority of Health (HAS) has given the green light to reimbursement of this preventive medication for all infants during their first year of exposure to RSV. It is not a vaccine, but preventive treatment, which helps protect infants once morest bronchiolitis caused by RSV over a period of at least 5 months. It is administered once by an intramuscular injection.

To know ! Another preventative medication is also available for infants at risk of severe bronchiolitis. Depending on drug availability, fragile infants may be protected by one or other drug

Infants eligible for this treatment are children born since February 6, 2023. HAS specifies that infants born since September 15, 2023 must, if possible, receive treatment before leaving the maternity ward. The provision of a preventive medication once morest bronchiolitis was popular with parents, which led to very high demand for the medication in pharmacies. Currently, stocks are insufficient to cover needs, and priority was given to maternity wards to protect the youngest infants.

Hygiene, a shield once morest bronchiolitis

New stocks of this drug might be available in early November to protect more infants once morest the risks associated with bronchiolitis. Each year, 2 to 3% of infants under one year of age are hospitalized for severe bronchiolitis, which may require respiratory assistance. Will the new drug help reduce the health impact of the bronchiolitis epidemic? The answer will be known in spring 2024.

Until then, parents must also know the essential hygiene rules to prevent bronchiolitis:

• Wash your hands with soap or hydroalcoholic gel before approaching or touching the infant;
• Avoid busy and confined public places to limit the infant’s contact with sick people;
• Do not share unwashed bottles, pacifiers and cutlery;
• Ventilate the room for at least 10 minutes a day;
• Do not smoke near an infant or in the home where he or she lives;
• Regularly clean objects handled by the infant.

Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy

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