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Editor, Senior Moderator
Start of the bronchiolitis epidemic in Reunion
News
Diseases, Prevention, Alerts
January 5, 2024
An epidemic of bronchiolitis is currently observed in Reunion Island. This highly contagious viral respiratory disease mainly affects babies. It often causes mild symptoms in adults but can cause lung infection in infants.
The ARS La Réunion recommends that parents of young children exercise the greatest vigilance during this risky period and recalls the recommendations to prevent the disease.
Epidemiological situation
(Public Health France data as of 04/01/2024)
From December 25 to 31, 2023, the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old is increasing:
In order to protect babies from this disease, parents and those around the child are advised to take simple actions:
When you've got a cold :
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory disease of the small bronchi (bronchioles) caused by a widespread and very contagious virus which mainly affects children under 2 years old.
Bronchiolitis begins with a simple cold and a cough which turns into difficulty breathing , often accompanied by difficulty eating . The child may also have a fever .
The virus is transmitted by saliva, sneezing, coughing, equipment soiled by a person with a cold and by hands. Thus, colds in children and adults can lead to bronchiolitis in infants. In the majority of cases, the illness resolves spontaneously after 5 to 10 days but the cough may persist for 2 to 4 weeks.
Since December 2023, the new preventive treatment (nirsevimab Beyfortus®) has been offered to parents for their newborns, before leaving the maternity ward , in order to reduce the risk of infection. It complements preventative measures.
Consult the leaflet “Your child and bronchiolitis”
https://www.lareunion.ars.sante.fr/demarrage-de-lepidemie-de-bronchiolite-la-reunion-0
News
Diseases, Prevention, Alerts
January 5, 2024
An epidemic of bronchiolitis is currently observed in Reunion Island. This highly contagious viral respiratory disease mainly affects babies. It often causes mild symptoms in adults but can cause lung infection in infants.
The ARS La Réunion recommends that parents of young children exercise the greatest vigilance during this risky period and recalls the recommendations to prevent the disease.
Epidemiological situation
(Public Health France data as of 04/01/2024)
From December 25 to 31, 2023, the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years old is increasing:
- 87 visits to the emergency room compared to 75 the previous week;
- 33 children hospitalized (i.e. 38% of emergency room visits) compared to 29 the previous week.
In order to protect babies from this disease, parents and those around the child are advised to take simple actions:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds before caring for a baby,
- Avoid putting babies in contact with people with colds ,
- Regularly clean objects with which babies come into contact (bottles, pacifiers, games, cuddly toys, etc.),
- Ventilate their room regularly .
- Regularly clear his nose with physiological serum,
- Ventilate his room and be careful not to cover him too much,
- Do not expose it to tobacco smoke,
- Give him something to drink regularly,
- Continue to lay him on his back flat,
- Take him to the doctor quickly if he has difficulty breathing and difficulty eating.
When you've got a cold :
- Avoid kissing babies
- Always wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds before caring for a baby
- Wear a mask when caring for a baby
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory disease of the small bronchi (bronchioles) caused by a widespread and very contagious virus which mainly affects children under 2 years old.
Bronchiolitis begins with a simple cold and a cough which turns into difficulty breathing , often accompanied by difficulty eating . The child may also have a fever .
The virus is transmitted by saliva, sneezing, coughing, equipment soiled by a person with a cold and by hands. Thus, colds in children and adults can lead to bronchiolitis in infants. In the majority of cases, the illness resolves spontaneously after 5 to 10 days but the cough may persist for 2 to 4 weeks.
Since December 2023, the new preventive treatment (nirsevimab Beyfortus®) has been offered to parents for their newborns, before leaving the maternity ward , in order to reduce the risk of infection. It complements preventative measures.
Consult the leaflet “Your child and bronchiolitis”
Download
https://www.lareunion.ars.sante.fr/demarrage-de-lepidemie-de-bronchiolite-la-reunion-0