Summary

In Week 11 (March 12–18, 2018), all-cause emergency department visits decreased among children under 2 years of age and adults aged 75 and older, increased by 12.6% among children aged 2–14 (+7,665 visits), and remained stable among adults aged 15–74. Hospitalizations following emergency department visits remained stable among 2- to 14-year-olds and 15- to 74-year-olds and decreased among children under 2 and adults aged 75 and older.

Among seasonal illnesses, the main trend is a decrease in respiratory illnesses among adults following several consecutive weeks of increases: acute bronchitis (-19%, -523 visits), pneumonia (-18%, or -1,004 visits), and ENT disorders (-7.5%, or -267 visits). The activity levels for these three indicators have returned to values close to those observed in 2016 but remain higher than those of 2017. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for influenza decreased across all age groups (all ages combined: -31%, or -1,030 visits, and -35% for hospitalizations). Among children, there was a 36% increase in visits for acute bronchitis among those under 2 years of age (+32 visits) and a 7% increase for ENT conditions among those aged 2–14 (+327 visits). Among non-specific indicators, there was an increase in visits for asthma attacks (+31%, or +229 visits) and general malaise (+24%, or +119 visits) among children aged 2–14.

Among the most common conditions, there continues to be an increase in visits for trauma (+19%, or +3,721 visits) and for abdominal pain (+20%, or +473 visits) among children aged 2–14. Among adults aged 15–74, a slight increase in visits for anxiety disorders was observed (+6.4%, or +210 visits). The most common conditions among those aged 75 and older are all on the decline.