Flu : the epidemic extends, “normally” to the whole of France but the emergency departments are overwhelmed

piotr_marcinski/epictura

Published the 04.01.2018 to 13h21

A A

Keywords :

grippeépilationurgences

According to the latest weekly newsletter of the network of influenza surveillance, the Sentinel network for the week of 25 to 31/12/17, the flu epidemic continues in metropolitan france, Corsica remained in situation in the pre-epidemic.

Not yet at peak

In metropolitan France, last week (2017s52), the incidence rate of influenza-like illness seen in consultation of general medicine has been estimated to 527 cases per 100 000 population, 343, 000 new cases. During these 3 weeks of an influenza epidemic, 704 000 people are reported to have consulted a general practitioner for this reason.
At the regional level, the highest incidence rates were observed in : Provence-Alpes-Côte d’azur (778 cases per 100 000 inhabitants), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (683 cases), and Normandy (593 cases). The quasi-totality of metropolitan activity is strong, except Corsica. The virus most often encountered is the virus A(H1N1), which is included in the vaccine of the year.

An epidemic is almost normal

The number of people having consulted a general practitioner for influenza increased from 355 000 to 704 000 last week. An epidemic moderate, but the peak of the flu is not reached and the frequency of consultations in medicine should continue to increase in the next few weeks.
Which is quite unusual this year, it is the extremely rapid rise in the number of passages to the emergency room in the past 3 weeks : in the week from 25 to 31 December, Public Health, France has identified nearly $ 11 500 passages to the urgencies for influenza or influenza-like illness, an increase of over 80% compared to the previous week.

No excess mortality

Public health of France reported 31 deaths since the 1st of November, mainly among patients with severe influenza admitted to intensive care units.
In this regard, the agency reiterates that there is still time to get vaccinated. Even if the protection of the vaccine is not playing at 100%, it is known that the majority of patients the most serious, which are in the intensive care unit, are patients who are not vaccinated.

Other co-epidemics

The epidemic of gastro-enteritis has also progressed on the territory compared to the previous week. The seven regions are now in the epidemic phase (Hauts-de-France, Grand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitania, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’azur and Corsica), six in pre-epidemic, and only one remains untouched (the Loire valley).

The epidemic of bronchiolitis which affects children under two years of age is also progressing : it has caused 4 600 passages to the emergency room and 715 visits by SOS Doctors (respectively 6 and 11% more than the previous week). All regions are in ” epidemic phase “, with the exception of the Île-de-France which is output after having been affected earlier than the other regions.

Recognize the influenza

The first symptom of flu is fever. Usually, it comes on suddenly. It can also be high, between 38 and 40 degrees.
The fever does not come alone. It is accompanied with chills, body aches, headache, and a very strong fatigue.
In other words, the flu pins you to the bed. And this, in general, for seven days. The time to heal.

When to see a doctor ?

The appearance of these symptoms, it is not necessary to rush to the hospital or to the doctor. Encourage a visit to the doctor if it is an infant, if you are pregnant or over 65 years of age, or in the case of chronic illness (diabetes, heart failure, respiratory or renal…)
It is also necessary to see if there is a sudden aggravation, and in the absence of improvement after 72 h.

When to go to the emergency room ?

On the other hand, it is necessary to go directly to the emergency if the flu seems to be very aggressive with a high fever over 40°C or poorly supported, and in cases of uncharacteristic signs : shortness of breath at rest or difficulty breathing, productive cough with expectoration of pus-like appearance, an oppression at the chest, serious difficulties to move, the neck very stiff, a feeling of confusion, convulsions.

Even if it is not necessary to go to the emergency room ” for nothing “, the flu is obviously not a disease to be taken lightly.