Summary

In Week 3 (January 15–21), all-cause emergency department visits increased among children aged 2–14 (+13%, 7,552 visits) and remained stable in other age groups. Hospitalizations following emergency department visits followed the same trend (+10% among 2–14-year-olds).

After a decline in visits among children aged 2–14 for two consecutive weeks, this week saw a marked increase in all seasonal and non-specific indicators. This increase was also observed among children under 2 years of age, though to a lesser extent. Activity for these indicators was either declining or stable among adults.

Among seasonal conditions, there is an increase in visits for acute bronchitis among those under 15 (+6% among children under 2, +37% among 2- to 14-year-olds), pneumonia (+12%), and ENT conditions (+16%, +1,240 visits). Among 2- to 14-year-olds, influenza is on the rise again (+37%, +550 visits). Finally, there is an increase in visits for gastroenteritis (+9%) among children under 15.

Among non-specific indicators, we note an increase in visits among 2- to 14-year-olds for isolated fever (+25%, +403 visits) and malaise (+27%) for the third consecutive week. Among children under 15, there has been an increase in visits for asthma (+57%, +532 visits), allergies (+16%, +102 visits), and infectious conjunctivitis (+12%).

Among the 10 most common conditions not mentioned above, we note an increase in visits among 2- to 14-year-olds for abdominal pain (+10%) and trauma (+10%), which was also observed among adults aged 15 to 74 (+6%). Among adults aged 75 and older, there was a slight increase (+7%) in urinary tract infections.