Key points

Bronchiolitis

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Indicators on the rise for the third consecutive epidemic week. The bronchiolitis epidemic, which began early in week 41 (October 11–17, 2021), is spreading in the region, with active circulation of RSV and hospital indicators remaining at a high level. Nearly 34% of hospitalizations among children under 2 years of age are for bronchiolitis.

In week 43 of 2021 (October 25–30, 2021), indicators continued to rise in the region, with:

• 89 SOS Médecins* consultations recorded, representing 7.7% of activity involving children under 2 years of age (compared to 6.6% in week 42);

• 249 emergency department visits recorded, representing 14.5% of activity among children under 2 years of age (compared to 11.1% in week 42), of which 107 were followed by hospitalization, representing 43.0% of bronchiolitis cases;

• The number of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis remains high among hospitalizations of children under 2 years of age (34% in week 43 compared to 32% in week 42), with 92% of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis involving children under 1 year of age;

• Active circulation of RSV in the region, with an increasing number of positive RSV test results.

An increase in bronchiolitis indicators among children under 2 years of age is observed in most departments in the region, with a more pronounced rise this week in the Landes (17% of emergency room visits and 48% of hospitalizations are due to bronchiolitis) and in Haute-Vienne (14% of emergency room visits and 46% of hospitalizations are due to bronchiolitis).

*Data should be interpreted with caution due to a strike that has impacted the operations of SOS Médecins since week 39 of 2021