Influenza : the peak of the epidemic is yet to come and the emergency rooms are already overburdened

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Published the 05.01.2018 at 12: 24 pm

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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. In Europe, flu activity prevails in the countries of the West.

Not yet at peak

In metropolitan France, the incidence of influenza-like illness seen in consultation of general medicine, is mounted to 527 cases per 100 000 population, 343, 000 new cases for the only week of the holidays. During the last 3 weeks of the flu epidemic, it is more than 700 000 people who have consulted a gp for this reason.
At the regional level, the highest incidence rates are observed in the 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 average age of the patients is 30 years and the disease affects almost as many men as women. The virus most often encountered is the virus A(H1N1), which is included in the vaccine of the year, followed by the A(H3N2). There was virtually no co-infection with virus A and virus B.

An epidemic without apparent danger

The number of people who have consulted a general practitioner for the flu has doubled in the last week. An epidemic within the limits of the usual number, but unusual for its brutality, an installation with a very fast rise in the number of passages to the emergency room lately : 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 more than 80% compared to the previous week !

No on-mortality

So far, there is no unusual increase in mortality related to the flu this year (14 000 flu-related deaths in 2017) : Public Health of France reported 31 deaths since the 1st of November, mainly among patients with severe influenza admitted to intensive care units. Two children are among the victims, while the elderly are relatively spared. The percentage of hospitalization, however, remains low (0.2%).
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.

Collision with other 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 are in the phase of 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.

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 of the disease and in the absence of improvement after 72 hours.

When to go to the emergency room ?

On the other hand, it is necessary to go directly to the emergency room if the influenza appears immediately 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.