Winter is going to be particularly complicated for pediatric intensive care units. The tensions reported in Ile-de-France, where more than thirty-four transfers have already had to be organized to other regions, are no exception. On the rest of the metropolitan territory, which has thirty-seven services specialized in the care of children whose vital prognosis is engaged, many establishments report saturated beds, constantly increasing visits to emergencies and some, as in Rouen , Bordeaux, Limoges or even Le Havre, had to activate their white plan, an emergency system to deal with an exceptional health situation.
In addition to the lack of staff in many departments, there is the epidemic of bronchiolitis, seasonal and expected, but earlier and more intense than in previous years. “The epidemic began four to five weeks in advance, everywhere in metropolitan France, from October 10 in seven regions then the following two weeks in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica. “Explains Sophie Vaux, from the infectious diseases department of the French public health agency (SPF). More than 6,000 children under the age of 2 went to the emergency room for bronchiolitis in mainland France during the week of October 24 to 30, a jump of 47% compared to the previous week, according to the weekly bulletin published Thursday, November 3.
If bronchiolitis occurs every year and remains mostly mild, it can lead to complications requiring hospitalization in 2% to 3% of cases, or even resuscitation, especially in children under 1 year old. As the disease affects nearly 500,000 children each winter, around 10,000 will need a hospital place. “The school holidays have not had their usual slowing effect, and the curve is much steeper than in 2021warns Sophie Vaux. We are already at a higher level than the peaks of previous years. »
“Five children in five days”
If the impact is different depending on the region, the epidemic started stronger in the North and in Ile-de-France. 150 kilometers east of Paris, the pediatric intensive care units of the CHU de Reims (Marne) have already had to accommodate ten Parisian children since mid-October. “But it has especially accelerated recently, with five children in five daysemphasizes Gauthier Loron, service manager. The Ile-de-France SAMU calls at least twice a day to find out if there is room. »
During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, four of the six beds were occupied by young Parisians, three with bronchiolitis and severe flu. Unheard of, according to the pediatrician. “For the moment, the epidemic is only in its infancy here, but soon we will have to welcome our own cases”, warns Gauthier Loron, whose pediatric resuscitation service is the only one in Champagne-Ardenne. Unlike the capital, where there is a lack of paramedical staff, its sector suffers from a shortage of doctors, little attracted by this medical desert caught between the Grand-Est and Paris.
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