Bronchiolitis has a strong seasonal increase : this generally begins mid-October and ends at the end of winter with a peak during the month of December.
Last week, this epidemic continued its progression in France, according to Public Health France in its weekly bulletin of Wednesday November 27.
Indicators linked to bronchiolitis were increasing in town and in hospitals. Seven metropolitan regions (Brittany, Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France, Centre-Val-de-Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Paca) and three from overseas (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana) are in an epidemic phase for bronchiolitisaccording to Public Health France. While five others are in the “pre-epidemic” phase.
Andreas Wernerpresident of the French association of ambulatory pediatrics (AFPA), recalled on BFMTV that this epidemic of bronchiolitis will mix this winter with those of flu and gastroenteritis. Problem according to him: “There are not enough staff.” And to warn: “We are forced to sort and not keep certain children for lack of space” in the most saturated emergency services.
Beyfortus, preventive medication, less well reimbursed than last winter
On RTL, Doctor Jimmy Mohamed recalled that bronchiolitis “is comparable to bronchitis in babies”. And to continue: “It is estimated that 30% of infants under 5 years old are affected each winter.”
Lesser known information, the viruses responsible for bronchiolitis also affect adults and can be fatal in seniors. According to Public Health France, those over 75 represented the majority of hospitalizations and 78% of deaths linked to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
This season is marked by the deployment two preventive treatmentsBeyfortus from AstraZneca and Sanofi, an antibody given directly to babies, and Abrysvo from Pfizer, a vaccine administered before birth to pregnant women.
Le Beyfortus – now reimbursed more than 30% by Health Insurance, the rest being covered by mutual insurance companies – had already been the subject of an immunization campaign last year. And studies agree to conclude that it limited baby hospitalizations in France and in the few other countries where it has been tested.
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