Twelve regions are classified as having a bronchiolitis epidemic in France by Santé Publique France. In Hauts-de-France, 120 infants were hospitalized during the week of November 25 to December 1, 2024, i.e. 18% more than the previous week.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “Today’s essentials: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
12 regions of France on alert, and a virus which progresses day after day among infants. Bronchiolitis, a winter disease, has entered its epidemic phase throughout mainland France.
In its latest bulletin published on December 4, 2024, Santé Publique France indicates that the majority of indicators are increasing, in town and in hospitals. Thus, during the week of November 25 to 1is December 2024, one in three hospitalizations after a trip to the emergency room was for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old.
Thus, over this period, among the 3,173 children under 2 years old seen in the emergency room for bronchiolitis, 1,159 were hospitalized.
With the transition to an epidemic this week in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, Normandy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Pays de La Loire regions, all metropolitan regions are in an epidemic.
In Hauts-de-France, placed in red for 3 weeks now, the virus is still progressing: in its latest bulletin published on December 5, 2024, Public Health France indicates that recourse to care for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old have stabilized at SOS Médecins, while hospitalizations increased by 17.6% in the region during the week which has just passed.
Thus, 120 infants under the age of two were hospitalized last week in hospitals in the region for bronchiolitis, compared to 102 the previous week.
Bronchiolitis is an acute respiratory viral infection that affects the small bronchi and lasts on average 6 to 10 days. It is characterized by an episode of respiratory difficulty, the signs of which are coughing and rapid, wheezing breathing. In addition to a simple cold, there is a dry cough and difficulty breathing. “At this stage of the disease, the child may have difficulty eating,” specifies Health Insurance, recalling that a “increased monitoring of infants is necessary at the onset of bronchiolitis”.
In general, we send an average of 10% of bronchiolitis cases we see to the hospital.
Khadidjatou Sow, general practitioner at the SOS doctors center in Roubaix and Tourcoing
“I notice among patients that I see a very clear increase in bronchiolitis”concedes Khadidjatou Sow, general practitioner at the SOS doctors center in Roubaix and Tourcoing. However, it is difficult for parents to differentiate a blocked nose from the disease. “Moms and dads who know come in saying, “the baby is wheezing,” which is an important indication. For others, we use the stethoscope to listen and diagnose.”
The key figures for bronchiolitis.
•
© Public Health France
Fortunately, not all babies with bronchiolitis are hospitalized. “In general, we send on average 10% of bronchiolitis that we see to the hospital,” continues the doctor, who reminds us that a vaccine exists: Beyfortus. “It is a vaccine which does not prevent bronchiolitis but which was developed to prevent serious forms of bronchiolitis.” Infants can be vaccinated from birth and in their first year.
