French hospitals struggle with worst bronchiolitis epidemic in decade

Paris, The Gulf Observer: French hospitals are facing a new epidemic as bronchiolitis infections soar to their highest level in a decade – leading public health authorities to issue a nationwide alert.

Caused by a virus, bronchiolitis is a common lung infection in babies and young children that leads to inflammation and congestion in the small airways, or bronchioles, of the lung.

It usually begins with a cold and is often characterised by coughing and rapid wheezing. Although most cases are mild, bronchiolitis can develop into a more severe form that requires hospitalisation.

The illness has arrived in France particularly early this year, accounting for half of all emergency hospital admissions in children aged under two, and putting paediatric services under pressure.

Ninety-two percent of cases were in infants aged under a year old, with authorities warning the epidemic is not expected to end soon.

Faced with the bronchiolitis wave, overwhelmed paediatric services have been forced to transfer babies to facilities several hundred kilometres from their homes.

While the whole of France has been hit, authorities say the intensity of the epidemic is being felt most in northern parts of the country.