Epidemiological Situation

Activity of emergency departments participating in the OSCOUR® network (InVS) Since week 2015-38, the proportion of emergency department visits coded as bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age has increased, following a trend similar to those observed during previous winter seasons (Figure 2). In week 2015-42, the proportion of bronchiolitis diagnoses accounted for 10.0% of emergency department visits among children under 2 years of age, compared with 4.6% and 6.7% in weeks 2015-40 and 2015-41, respectively. For this age group, the number of emergency department visits coded as "bronchiolitis" in week 2015-42 increased 5.9-fold compared to a baseline level (the period between weeks 2015-27 and 2015-37) (Figure 2).

Activity of the SOS Médecins associations in Caen, Cherbourg, and Rouen: Activity related to bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age for the SOS Médecins associations in both regions intensified starting in week 2014-38 (Figure 3). In week 2014-42, diagnoses of bronchiolitis accounted for 5.03% of consultations for children under 2 years of age, compared to an average of 1.65% over the period between weeks 2015-27 and 2015-S34. For this age group, the number of diagnoses coded as "bronchiolitis" in week 2014-42 was 5.6 times higher than the baseline level (the period between weeks 2014-27 and 2014-34).

A general review of regional indicators shows that bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age has intensified in the Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie regions. These observations mark the start of the seasonal bronchiolitis epidemic in Normandy.The current trend is consistent with patterns observed in these two regions at this time of year during previous epidemic seasons.