Bronchiolitis: the epidemic is spreading in France and worries specialists

Bronchiolitis continues to progress in the territory.

With the exceptions of Brittany and Corsica, which are always less exposed, the whole of the territory remains particularly affected by this respiratory infection of the small bronchi.

A very widespread and contagious virus, most often benign but which can prove to be fatal in young children.

In its latest bulletin published on Wednesday, Public Health France takes stock of the health situation, indicating that eleven regions are now "in an epidemic phase".

These are Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Center-Val-de-Loire, Hauts-de-France, Normandy, Île-de-France, Grand-Est , Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Pays de la Loire and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur.

[#Bronchiolite] Epidemiological bulletin of October 27

➡️11 regions are now in an epidemic phase in mainland France

👉To consult the bulletin https://t.co/CVCNDVAUGD pic.twitter.com/d0mZ5JbiV6

- SantépubliqueFrance (@SantePubliqueFr) October 27, 2021

Authorities are seeing a "sharp and early increase" in indicators of bronchiolitis in children under two.

Corsica is also going into the pre-epidemic phase when it was classified green ("without alarm") last week.

"The epidemic is on the rise, it is earlier and will certainly be more severe", indicated to France 3 Brigitte Llanas, head of the Pediatric Pole of the CHU of Pellegrin.

Almost two-thirds of children under 2 affected

From October 18 to 24, 3,342 children under the age of 2 were observed in the emergency room for bronchiolitis.

During this same week, 90% of them were under one year old and 34% were hospitalized, notes Public Health France.

Evidence that the disease severely affects the little ones: 93% of hospitalized children were under one year old.

Read alsoHealth: how to treat bronchiolitis

In general, periods of bronchiolitis are not particularly alarming for specialists. But this year, the virus appeared particularly early. Doctors are worried about a potential lack of immune defenses among the population and the youngest, who are particularly exposed to it, after a white season marked by the absence of seasonal flu and other winter viruses. latest. As a reminder, nearly two-thirds of infants get bronchiolitis each year.

The symptoms of this pathology of the small bronchi are quite recognizable by a baby's breathing difficulty and wheezing.

In the vast majority of cases, it is a mild disease, but there are 2 to 3% of the forms that can turn out to be serious.

Cigarette smoke, dust in the apartment as well as humidity can be aggravating factors.