While surveillance indicators in children under 2 show a “decrease” in most metropolitan areas, Public health France warned that this reflux “may be transitory following the Toussaint school holidays”. Overseas, Mayotte has entered the epidemic phase.
If they have fallen, “hospitalizations for bronchiolitis represent for the second consecutive week half of hospitalizations following a visit to the emergency room in children under two years old” in mainland France, underlined the health agency in its weekly report.
Tense situation in pediatric emergencies
A total of 5,565 children under two went to the emergency room for bronchiolitis in mainland France during the week of November 7 to 13, a drop of 20% compared to the previous week. Some 2,027 children were eventually hospitalized. A week ago, Public Health France reported emergency room visits and hospitalizations at record levels “for more than 10 years”. The epidemic is more intense in the northern half of the metropolis and in Guadeloupe, according to the health agency.
This epidemic is coming to strike pediatric emergencies plunged into a crisis linked to unsatisfactory working conditions and a lack of staff.
Under pressure, thehe Minister of Health launched a national emergency plan last Wednesday, says ORSANplanned for exceptional health situations, in order to “further strengthen the means of the ARS (regional health agencies) and allow the entire hospital to focus on this particularly acute problem today”.