The bronchiolitis epidemic in France has reached a level not seen for ten years, alerts the Ministry of Health. The white plan was launched this Wednesday at the national level. A worrying situation also visible in Centre-Val de Loire. The regional health agency publishes a press release this Thursday evening. She speaks of an “earlier and more intense” epidemic than in previous years.
In the Centre-Val de Loire region, for the week of October 31 to November 6, bronchiolitis in children under two represented 22% of emergency room activity for all causes in this age group. Hospitalizations after going to the emergency room for bronchiolitis accounted for 47% of hospitalizations in children under two.
The number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations reached new levels “for more than 10 years”
underline the health authorities.
One out of two hospitalizations due to bronchiolitis in children under two years old in Centre-Val de Loire
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In detail in Centre-Val de Loire, Indre is the department with the highest proportion of emergency visits for children under two years old for bronchiolitis (33%). Indre et Loire
accounts for 26% of visits to the emergency room because of this respiratory infection, 22% in Loiret, 19% in Cher.
Prevention advice from the Centre-Val de Loire Regional Health Agency
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory infection caused by a highly contagious virus, respiratory syncytial virus. Each year, 30% of children under the age of two are affected by bronchiolitis. “Despite often impressive symptoms, bronchiolitis is a generally benign disease that heals spontaneously” writes the ARS of Centre-Val de Loire.
To protect infants, the ARS provides several prevention tips
for the parents.
- Wash your hands for 30 seconds with soap and water before and after diaper changes, bottles, etc.
- Use a hydroalcoholic solution if it is not possible to wash your hands
- Ventilate the child’s living space daily, in particular the bedroom where he sleeps, at least 10 minutes a day
- Avoid contact with people with colds, confined places
- Do not share unwashed bottles with other children
- Regularly clean toys and cuddly toys
- Limit visits to the circle of very close and non-sick adults