A call to conscience. The head of pediatrics at the Rennes University Hospital Véronique Despert expressed her concern in the columns of the Telegram Wednesday of the particularly high number of cases of bronchiolitis in children this year. Ask for a reflection on the temporary closure of schools to stop the epidemic.
“I think we have to think about closing the schools now,” he said.
“Children catch the virus at school and pass it on to their little brother or sister. We also have to put an end to family gatherings. From a scientific point of view, there is no other way,” justifies the doctor.
The bronchiolitis epidemic arrived several weeks earlier this year and is particularly virulent, with record levels reached in infants for more than ten years.
More than 15 hours of waiting
Manon D., mother of a 4-year-old boy, faced a long wait at Rennes University Hospital. Her son, with stomach pains and a fever of 40 ° C, had to wait more than 15 hours, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, before being treated.
“They made me wait all this time to tell me to go home and give him Doliprane (…). There weren’t even places for everyone, it was horrible,” he denounces. Rennes News.
The Rennes University Hospital acknowledges having experienced, between Tuesday and Wednesday, an “exceptional night in terms of admissions”, which made it difficult to care for patients.
A “catastrophic” situation
The hospital says 140 young patients were admitted to the emergency room in just 24 hours, double what the department can normally handle.
“It is catastrophic. (…) We have already seen such influxes but not in such a long period,” the head of the pediatric service worries.
In addition to bronchiolitis, there have been numerous cases of flu and Covid, causing a triple epidemic that is contributing to the increase in the number of arrivals at hospitals.
“It is very serious and I do not know if the message has passed”, warns Véronique Despert.
The next few weeks are likely to still be busy for hospitals, while covid and flu cases have yet to peak, according to the pediatrician.
Source: BFM TV
