2023-10-26 15:15:00
Bronchiolitis is a common illness among young children during the cold season. THE infants under six months are particularly affected.
Bronchiolitis 2023-2024: the epidemic begins in France
The bronchiolitis epidemic began in France at the beginning of October. According to the epidemiological bulletin from Public Health France published on October 25, 4 regions are currently in the epidemic phase : Brittany, Normandy, Pays de la Loire and Île-de-France. 5 regions are in the pre-epidemic phase: Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est, Centre-Val-de-Loire, Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Overseas, three regions are in the epidemic phase: Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana.
© Public Health France
In week 42 (from October 16 to 22), “activity linked to bronchiolitis in community medicine and in hospitals continued to increase among children under 2 years old,” notes Public Health France. All monitoring indicators are on the rise : “SOS Médecins medical procedures, visits to the emergency room and hospitalizations after a visit to the emergency room for bronchiolitis”.
“In this context, it is necessary to be particularly vigilant and to apply barrier measures, particularly in the presence of children under 2 years old, to prevent bronchiolitis,” recalls Public Health France.
Preventive treatment available since September 15, 2023
After obtaining the green light from the European Medicines Agency and the High Authority for Health, the Beyfortus preventive treatmentdeveloped by Sanofi et AstraZeneca, is available in France for all infants up to 1 year old. Injectable from birth, it offers protection against bronchiolitis during the entire epidemic season. The vaccine is free, and is not compulsory. Infants can be vaccinated directly in the maternity ward, or on medical prescription by a doctor or nurse. “It is very effective and very well tolerated. It allows a 75 to 80% reduction in consultations and hospitalizations for bronchiolitis”, estimates Dr Romain Basmaci, pediatrician.
The Synagis preventive vaccine®developed by AstraZeneca, is also available for premature children or at risk.
Positive results for a Pfizer vaccine
The laboratory Pfizer recently published positive results of its clinical trial for its bronchiolitis vaccine, VRSpreF. It would be 82% effective in preventing severe cases in the first 3 months, and 70% in the 6 months after birth according to the press release. The American group plans to request authorization for its vaccine, given to the mother during pregnancyby the end of the year in the United States and then in other countries.
Other laboratories are also working on a vaccine against bronchiolitis, such as Moderna, GSK and Johnson & Johnson.
Contagion: how is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) caused by bronchiolitis caught?
Although several viruses can cause this respiratory infection, the main culprit is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In a healthy adult or child, RSV infection manifests itself with symptoms similar to those of the viral cold (nasopharyngitis); in an infant or child with a chronic illness, it may be more serious.
So be particularly vigilant if one of your family members has a cold. Many people carry the virus and are contagious without knowing it. Gold, a simple cold in adults can cause bronchiolitis in an infant.
RSV is very contagious : it is transmitted mainly by coughing, saliva, sneezingas well as by contaminated hands and objects. It lasts six hours on objects like toys, door handles, etc.
Pour limit the risks of contamination of your baby with these viruses, it is recommended to respect certain hygiene rules, particularly during the epidemic phase of bronchiolitis. It is recommended to avoid entry into the community (crèches, daycares, etc.) before 3 months. Moreover, you should not place your child in a community if he or she shows symptoms of viral infection. It’s important to plan your first vaccinations without delay so that he is protected as quickly as possible from severe infections in early childhood. We recommend to be up to date with your whooping cough vaccinations and to get vaccinated against the flu (ideally during pregnancy during the epidemic season).
Prevention: how to avoid bronchiolitis?
Apart from the preventive vaccine, it is possible to limit the risk of catching bronchiolitis, thanks to hygiene rules.
How to avoid viruses? Wash your hands regularly
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after taking care of your child (changing clothes, eating, playing, etc.) and when you return from a public place. Hands are the main vector of viral contamination. It is enough to shake the hand of someone with a cold or touch a dirty phone to in turn carry the virus on their hands. By washing your hands regularly, for at least 30 seconds, you eliminate 90% of germs. The remaining 10% is destroyed upon drying.
Away from home, slip a hydroalcoholic solution into your bag (check that it complies with European standards for effectiveness against bacteria): you will use it, for example, before giving your child his bottle or snack. .
Another measure to limit the spread of viruses: regularly clean the objects your baby comes into contact with (bottles, pacifiers, games, cuddly toy, etc.).
In the presence of an infant, wear a mask when you have a cold
- Limit visits to the circle of very close and non-ill adults, no kisses or passing from arm to arm, no visits to young children before the age of 3 months.
- When you have a cold, wear the mask when you care for your child, even at home. Don’t kiss him on the face or hands. This advice applies to all loved ones (brothers, sisters, etc.).
- Avoid your child being in contact with sick people, especially those with colds.
- If the rest of the siblings show symptoms of viral infection, keep them away from the baby during the acute phase of the infection.
Generally, avoid taking your infant to public places during bronchiolitis epidemics. Know that it is best to maintain a distance of at least two to three meters from a person with a cold : 1,400,000 droplets filled with viruses are projected by spits, sneezes and coughs at a speed of 200 km/h. At two meters, we avoid this cloud.
Breastfeeding your baby can help fight infections
Other prevention advice: studies have shown that breastfeeding your child for as long as possible reduces the risk of recurrence of bronchiolitis. Indeed, the breastmilk contains antibodies that help infants fight infections.
Clean up your living space
- Ventilate your baby’s room every day (ideally twice a day) by opening the windows in the room for ten minutes. By ventilating the living space, we dilute the contaminants in the air, therefore reducing the risk of being infected.
- Make sure that the ambient temperature does not exceed 19°C. Air that is too dry and too hot makes the airways more susceptible to germs. To humidify the ambient air, especially in your child’s bedroom, place a damp towel or a container of water nearby on the radiator, or use an electric or porous stone humidifier.
- Do not use Armenian paper, incense or other essential oil diffusers. They release volatile organic compounds (benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, etc.) which are toxic and irritating to your child’s lungs. Some are even carcinogenic in the long run.
- Avoid smoky places. Cigarettes are irritating to children’s lungs and aggravate bronchiolitis.
Clean your child’s nose regularly
The cleansing the nose with physiological serum should be done every day, morning and evening, whether your child is sick or not.
The nasal mucosa is the first filter for microbes. Freed of all clutter, the eyelashes of the nose, which evacuate germs, can then fully play their role.
In addition, washing the nose with physiological serum, aided by a baby aspirator during colds or nasopharyngitis, is a good way toprevent colds from degenerating into bronchiolitis.
Baby with a cold: prevent it from becoming complicated by bronchiolitis
Certain simple actions should be adopted to limit the risk of worsening and occurrence of bronchiolitis. In addition to following the treatments prescribed by the doctor:
- cleaning your little one’s nose at least 6 times a day with physiological serum, in particular before giving him something to drink or eat:
- give him drink water regularly to avoid dehydration;
- split up his meals by feeding him more often and in smaller quantities:
- ventilate all rooms in the house every day;
- continue to lay him flat on his back.
When should you worry? When to go to the emergency room? What symptoms should alert you?
If your baby has trouble breathing or has difficulty eating or breastfeeding, consult your doctor promptly.
It is best to go to the emergency room if you have worrying signs of bronchiolitis:
- if the child vomits;
- if the child is less than 6 weeks old or is a former premature baby aged less than three months;
- if he already suffers from a heart or respiratory disease;
- if he sleeps constantly or cries unusually.
You can download an information guide on bronchiolitis, produced by the Ministry of Health.
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