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The bronchiolitis epidemic, in advance, overwhelmed the pediatric services of hospitals, such as that of the University Hospital of Amiens, in the Somme. The peak of the epidemic has not yet been reached, it is expected for the beginning of December.
In Amiens (Somme), little Isaac, nine months old and asthmatic, is on his third bronchiolitis. Each time, he was hospitalized for several days. “Sometimes he’s scary because I feel like he’s going to stop breathing, he turns red. We feel helpless in the face of this disease”, explains his mother. Emergencies are facing a strong and early epidemic. The only full-time pediatrician ends his 24-hour shift after seeing 50 cases pass.
Usually, the CHU of Amiens would have increased its number of beds for the winter. Impossible this year given the lack of staff in the corridors of the hospital. Without triggering the white plan, he must mobilize an additional intern and save money by no longer accepting transfers from Paris and Rouen. “We have been doing deprogramming for three weeks and we did it again this week. (…) We are tense, there are evenings when we have one or two places, it’s complicated”, explains Patrick Berquin, president of the medical commission of establishment at the CHU of Amiens. The peak of the epidemic is expected in December.