As everywhere in Quebec, the region is not immune to circulating viruses. In the establishments of the Integrated University Center for Health and Social Services of Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec (CIUSSS MCQ), the number of consultations has increased in the last two weeks.
“We really saw that the flu, the flu, made a significant leap in Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec. But we still have quite a cocktail of viruses out there,” says Dr Caroline Marcoux-Huard, Physician Consultant in Public Health, in a telephone interview with Heremedia.
These viruses, he notes, may have a preference for certain types of customers or populations. One of these particularly affects the little ones. “It is one of the main culprits of bronchiolitis in children. But it can also be virulent in the elderly,” says the medical adviser.
The large number of sick children can be explained in particular by the pandemic period which has limited social interactions. “These interactions have always favored the construction of our immune system. We put that on hold for two-and-a-half years, meaning the kids didn’t necessarily build up their immune systems like they usually would, notes Dr. Marcoux-Huard. They are therefore more vulnerable to what is circulating and there is an avalanche of viruses circulating as we have not seen in the two years of the pandemic. »
The flu, for its part, generally affects older populations. But this year the situation is different. “It’s the type A flu that we’ve seen this year and it seems to still be affecting younger people. It’s not something you see often. We see that children are more affected than usual, ”says the medical adviser.
The importance of prevention
One of the best means of protection against viruses remains vaccination, particularly in people susceptible to complications, insists Dr. Marcoux-Huard. This is the case for people with chronic illnesses, heart disease, people with asthma, those suffering from diabetes or those with weakened immune systems. “There are other ways to prevent, says the medical adviser. There has been a lot of talk about basic hygiene measures and respiratory etiquette. But we must also think about encouraging the practice of outdoor activities and maintaining a certain distance. Since we no longer have a mask, we don’t have to stick together. »
And for babies younger than 6 months who can’t get flu and COVID vaccines due to their age, Dr. Caroline Marcoux-Huard suggests avoiding exposing them to the whole family. . “We are often tempted to cajole them, to pamper them. We can afford to still have beautiful virtual meetings for children who will be born soon or who have just seen the light ”, she says, also inviting pregnant women to consider vaccination to avoid transmitting the virus to the child.
What to do if you are sick?
When disease strikes, there are various tools to see things more clearly and the CIUSSS MCQ site can be of great help in this regard. One page Are you sick? has been developed (https://ciusssmcq.ca/conseils-sante/vous-etes-malade/). Includes various leaflets related to bronchiolitis, fever, gastro, nasal hygiene, flu, laryngitis, otitis, colds, sinusitis and COVID-19. “We have different types of papers that can guide the parent depending on what the child is presenting. For example, with a fever, when should you consult? Don’t forget that fever is a natural way to fight infections. Any fever does not necessarily have to lead to a doctor’s visit,” emphasizes Dr Marcoux-Huard.
Pharmacists are good allies too, he notes. “Particularly in the context of a shortage of some medicines for children, they can guide and help us, just like 8-1-1 with health care workers answering the calls. »
Holiday worries
The approaching holiday season and family reunions cause health authorities to be extremely vigilant. “If we want to be optimistic, let’s hope that all the measures we put in place result in less transmission and greater protection”, hopes the medical consultant aware that with the end of the pandemic, in a certain sense, people want to live in a certain normality. “It is certain that we will be very vigilant in the coming weeks, he assures. We are looking at the evolution of these viruses, emergency room consultations and concerned groups to be as responsive as possible. The CIUSSS, through various departments and departments, looks into this issue on a weekly if not daily basis to see how we can optimize our prevention measures and break the chains of transmission. »
Healthcare workers are made aware of the appropriate measures to be taken to avoid being a vector of transmission or contracting the virus, because the absenteeism of these workers can have significant consequences in the CIUSSS service offer.
The population must also play its part. “Social solidarity is kind of what we’re looking for now, because we don’t have to put more pressure on the already weakened system,” estimates the medical consultant.
Having said that, without going over too restrictive measures, the temperature, remember, allows the practice of outdoor activities, technology allows virtual meetings. “We are at a juncture of different elements. Without suspending everything, perhaps it is better to favor a transition. And since we are not immune to any other new virus, we must learn from what we have just experienced,” concludes Dr Caroline Marcoux-Huard.
