Winter brings its share of viruses with diseases that we had not heard of last year, the fault of the omnipresence of the epidemic of Covid-19. Flu, gastro but also bronchiolitis. In the 13 regions of France, the epidemic threshold has been exceeded for the bronchiolitis virus.
The importance of barrier gestures
Public Health France notes an almost constant increase in emergency room visits for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age. Among the 3,247 children under 2 seen in the emergency room for bronchiolitis last week in France, 9 out of 10 were under the age of 1. However, the figures are down 22% compared to previous weeks. TO Orleans (Loiret), the pediatrician Fabienne Kochert recalls the importance of the right actions to be taken to avoid overcrowding emergencies. “As a first step, families must respect barrier measures vis-à-vis the most vulnerable. Do not hesitate to wear the mask if we are sick and reinforce hand washing. ” Public Health France indicates that since the month ofAugust 2021, the barrier measures have been relaxed, which could explain the resurgence of gastroenteritis. Fabienne Kochert adds, “houses must also be well ventilated“.
How is bronchiolitis transmitted?
Bronchiolitis is very contagious. It is transmitted by coughing, postilions and by direct contact such as manual contact or a kiss. It can also be transmitted indirectly with contaminated objects such as a bottle or toys. To avoid transmission, the pediatrician provides advice. “Children under two should be avoided in supermarkets and kept away from siblings returning from school.“
Symptoms
It is often with a cold and then a cough that bronchiolitis begins. Leading to breathing difficulties. When the baby begins to have difficulty breathing, with each breath the tummy rises. The baby sometimes has a fever. The pediatrician Fabienne Kochert indicates that “start by washing the nose well to free the airways and allow the baby to breathe well and eat. “She adds that there is no vaccine against this virus.
Fabienne Kochert fears a peak in bronchiolitis in December, this is the usual trend, before an improvement with the end of winter. “Winter is the period when homes are more confined and homes are less ventilated. “