Epidemiological situation
Since mid-April, an upsurge in emergency room visits for children under 2 for bronchiolitis has been observed in Reunion. The upsurge in cases is usually observed during the hot and humid season on the island. In 2021, as in metropolitan France, a delay of a few months from the start of the epidemic was observed, but the intensity of the epidemic remains lower than in previous years.
An epidemic peak seems to have been reached in week 19 (from May 10 to 16 with 68 emergency visits). However, the seasonal epidemic of bronchiolitis remains active and present in the territory.
From May 24 to 30 (week 21), were recorded in children under 2 years of age:
• 60 emergency room visits for bronchiolitis, including 28 followed by hospitalization (46% of total emergency room visits)
• 4 out of 10 children who came to the emergency room were hospitalized for a reason for bronchiolitis.
What is bronchiolitis?
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory disease of the small bronchi (bronchioles) caused by a widespread and highly contagious virus that mainly affects children under 2 years of age.
Bronchiolitis begins with a simple cold and a cough that turns into difficulty breathing, often accompanied by difficulty eating.
The virus is spread through saliva, sneezing, coughing, equipment soiled by a person with a cold, and through the hands. Thus, the common cold of children and adults can lead to bronchiolitis in infants. In most cases, bronchiolitis resolves spontaneously after 5-10 days, but the cough may persist for 2-4 weeks.
How to prevent the disease and limit the transmission of the virus?
In order to prevent the transmission of the disease, it is advisable to resort to simple actions:
• Always wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds before looking after a baby,
• Avoid putting babies in contact with people with colds,
• Regularly clean the objects with which they are in contact (bottles, pacifiers, games,> soft toys? …),
• Regularly air their room.
When the child is sick:
• Regularly declutter his nose with physiological serum,
• Air your room and be careful not to cover it too much,
• Do not expose him to tobacco smoke,
• Give him a drink regularly,
• Continue to lie down on his back flat,
• Take her quickly to the doctor if she has difficulty breathing and has difficulty eating. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe respiratory physiotherapy sessions.
If in doubt, or if you see signs of respiratory distress, call 15.
When you’ve got a cold :
• Avoid kissing your child on the face and on the hands,
• Wear a mask when caring for your baby.
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