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An "unprecedented" bronchiolitis epidemic affects Belgium: the situation is very tense in Brussels
Agence Belga , published on November 29, 2022 at 4:37 p.m.
As the cold sets in, several hospital pediatric wards are saturated in Belgium, facing an "unprecedented" bronchiolitis epidemic, as is also the case in France. The situation is particularly tense in Brussels since no more beds were available on Tuesday in three major hospitals in the capital, namely at the Saint-Luc university clinics, at the CHU Saint-Pierre and at the UZ Brussel.
At Saint-Pierre hospital in central Brussels, the last six beds available received six sick children on Monday. " Pediatric emergencies are completely saturated under the bronchiolitis effect ", indicated Nathalie Schaar, communication officer at CHU Saint-Pierre.
Same observation at UZ Brussel, which speaks of a " peak period " for respiratory infections of the RSV type (respiratory syncytial virus) while the 52 pediatric beds of the establishment are occupied. " It's the classic cycle: with the approach of winter, there is an increase in respiratory diseases ", tempers Maud Rouille, spokesperson for the Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital.
But Stéphane Moniotte, head of the pediatrics department at Saint-Luc University Clinics, also a member of the Belgian Academy of Pediatrics, is more alarmist. " This is an unprecedented bronchiolitis epidemic. The number of patients with RSV is higher than in other years ," he observes, interviewed by the Belga agency. “ These patients are oxygen-dependent, which means that the emergency rooms are quickly overwhelmed ,” he adds, stressing that the 135 pediatric beds in Saint-Luc are always full.
“We are really in trouble”
The situation is all the more critical as the teams of nurses and nurses specializing in pediatrics are weakened by the shortage of nursing staff, which affects the entire health sector. “ We are really in difficulty. Young patients under the age of two in respiratory distress arrive by the dozens in the waiting rooms and it is difficult to find space for these children, who sometimes remain in temporary hospitalization before being discharged. be transferred to hospitalization strictly speaking ", illustrates Mr. Moniotte.
This crisis situation is reminiscent of that experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic even if it is happening on a different scale since it only affects part of the population. " We are facing the same problems as during the Covid: the shortage of nurses has not been resolved, there is still a lack of hospital places and the number of patients is important ", analyzes the head of the pediatrics department at Saint-Luc. " We see ourselves obliged to transfer patients and deal with the most urgent ", he regrets.
The situation is complicated elsewhere as well.
The pediatric hospital of Jolimont, in the province of Hainaut, which is part of the same care network as Saint-Luc, is also saturated. The pediatric department of the Grand Hospital of Charleroi is also full, even if the pathologies vary and are not limited to cases of bronchiolitis. “ The 39 pediatric beds, including those in the day hospital, are all occupied on Tuesday ,” confirmed the Carolo establishment.
In Liège, the situation is mixed with on the one hand, the pediatric service of the CHU which " overflows with cases of bronchiolitis for two weeks ", and on the other, the CHC MontLégial where the rate of occupancy of the beds pediatrics reached 36% (29 beds out of the 80 available on Tuesday). " But the bronchiolitis season generally lasts until February. The situation can therefore change very quickly ", punctuates Catherine Marissiaux, the communication manager of the CHC.
Bronchiolitis is an acute viral infection of the lower respiratory tract that affects young children and causes coughing and labored breathing. In France, an epidemic of bronchiolitis, which has been raging for several weeks, is straining the pediatric emergency department.
An "unprecedented" bronchiolitis epidemic affects Belgium: the situation is very tense in Brussels
Agence Belga , published on November 29, 2022 at 4:37 p.m.
As the cold sets in, several hospital pediatric wards are saturated in Belgium, facing an "unprecedented" bronchiolitis epidemic, as is also the case in France. The situation is particularly tense in Brussels since no more beds were available on Tuesday in three major hospitals in the capital, namely at the Saint-Luc university clinics, at the CHU Saint-Pierre and at the UZ Brussel.
At Saint-Pierre hospital in central Brussels, the last six beds available received six sick children on Monday. " Pediatric emergencies are completely saturated under the bronchiolitis effect ", indicated Nathalie Schaar, communication officer at CHU Saint-Pierre.
Same observation at UZ Brussel, which speaks of a " peak period " for respiratory infections of the RSV type (respiratory syncytial virus) while the 52 pediatric beds of the establishment are occupied. " It's the classic cycle: with the approach of winter, there is an increase in respiratory diseases ", tempers Maud Rouille, spokesperson for the Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital.
But Stéphane Moniotte, head of the pediatrics department at Saint-Luc University Clinics, also a member of the Belgian Academy of Pediatrics, is more alarmist. " This is an unprecedented bronchiolitis epidemic. The number of patients with RSV is higher than in other years ," he observes, interviewed by the Belga agency. “ These patients are oxygen-dependent, which means that the emergency rooms are quickly overwhelmed ,” he adds, stressing that the 135 pediatric beds in Saint-Luc are always full.
“We are really in trouble”
The situation is all the more critical as the teams of nurses and nurses specializing in pediatrics are weakened by the shortage of nursing staff, which affects the entire health sector. “ We are really in difficulty. Young patients under the age of two in respiratory distress arrive by the dozens in the waiting rooms and it is difficult to find space for these children, who sometimes remain in temporary hospitalization before being discharged. be transferred to hospitalization strictly speaking ", illustrates Mr. Moniotte.
This crisis situation is reminiscent of that experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic even if it is happening on a different scale since it only affects part of the population. " We are facing the same problems as during the Covid: the shortage of nurses has not been resolved, there is still a lack of hospital places and the number of patients is important ", analyzes the head of the pediatrics department at Saint-Luc. " We see ourselves obliged to transfer patients and deal with the most urgent ", he regrets.
The situation is complicated elsewhere as well.
The pediatric hospital of Jolimont, in the province of Hainaut, which is part of the same care network as Saint-Luc, is also saturated. The pediatric department of the Grand Hospital of Charleroi is also full, even if the pathologies vary and are not limited to cases of bronchiolitis. “ The 39 pediatric beds, including those in the day hospital, are all occupied on Tuesday ,” confirmed the Carolo establishment.
In Liège, the situation is mixed with on the one hand, the pediatric service of the CHU which " overflows with cases of bronchiolitis for two weeks ", and on the other, the CHC MontLégial where the rate of occupancy of the beds pediatrics reached 36% (29 beds out of the 80 available on Tuesday). " But the bronchiolitis season generally lasts until February. The situation can therefore change very quickly ", punctuates Catherine Marissiaux, the communication manager of the CHC.
Bronchiolitis is an acute viral infection of the lower respiratory tract that affects young children and causes coughing and labored breathing. In France, an epidemic of bronchiolitis, which has been raging for several weeks, is straining the pediatric emergency department.
