Key points

Bronchiolitis

In the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: start of the epidemic phase.

The rise in bronchiolitis surveillance indicators continues in the region, suggesting an earlier start to the epidemic compared to previous years, with the onset of active RSV circulation and an increase in the proportion of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis. In week 41 of 2021 (October 11–17, 2021), all indicators are rising in the region, with:

• 59 SOS Médecins consultations recorded, representing 6.2% of activity involving children under 2 years of age (compared to 5.6% in week 40);

• 130 emergency department visits recorded, representing 8.2% of activity among children under 2 years of age (compared to 7.7% in week 40), of which 65 were followed by hospitalization, representing 50% of bronchiolitis cases;

• The proportion of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among hospitalizations of children under 2 years of age is increasing (23% in week 41 compared to 19% in week 40);

• The number of positive RSV test results among samples tested is increasing, particularly at the virology laboratory of Bordeaux University Hospital.

This rise in indicators is particularly pronounced in the Gironde department, where 13% of emergency department visits for bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age were recorded, and hospitalizations for bronchiolitis account for 35% of hospitalizations among children under 2 years of age.