A nirsevimab injection would prevent bronchiolitis. But can all children receive this antibody? This is what a vast international study in which the CHU of Bordeaux is participating aims to determine.
Runny nose, fever, cough, wheezing and, of course, difficulty breathing. Very contagious, bronchiolitis is spreading again this autumn throughout France. In mid-November, the health authorities are still alarmed: this acute and particularly contagious viral infection which affects the bronchioles, i.e. the small bronchi, remains at “a very high level”, saturating the pediatric services of hospitals and paediatricians’ waiting rooms of the city.
While bronchiolitis is generally a mild disease, it can sometimes more severely affect very young children, and particularly infants less than two months of age, sometimes resulting in hospitalization. Question: Is there any way to prevent bronchiolitis? Wash your hands regularly, ventilate the internal environments, limit visits, encourage going out into the open air, wash the child’s nose several times a day with physiological serum, do not expose the child to cigarette smoke or even making sure that the temperature of the his room does not exceed 19° C can help limit transmission to the child, as reported by theNew regional health agency of Aquitainethe Bordeaux university hospital announced on Friday 18 November that it was testing a preventive treatment, relay races in particular 20 minutes.
What is this preventive treatment against bronchiolitis?
A single injection of nirsevimab, a recombinant human monoclonal antibody, could significantly reduce lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is the virus usually responsible for bronchiolitis. ameli.fr. This single injection “can significantly reduce the risk of contracting acute bronchiolitis, lung infections such as pneumonia and otitis media for about six months,” indicates the Bordeaux University Hospital, echoed by 20 minutes. And to clarify: “This new treatment has already reduced lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV by 74.5% in a clinical study involving 4,000 children.”
How to participate in the Bronchiolitis Preventive Treatment Study?
The idea now is to find out if nirsevimab can be offered to all children. For this a large study has been initiated, in which the Bordeaux University Hospital in France is participating, but also other institutes located in Germany and the United Kingdom. “The study is open to term or preterm infants (at least 29 weeks gestational age) younger than 12 months of age. Treatment may optionally be given at birth to provide protection during the first few months,” it indicates. The Bordeaux University Hospital therefore invites all parents who wish to participate. For a first contact, just send an email to [email protected].
