Key Points

COVID-19

• In week 46 of 2022, the four SOS Médecins associations in the region (Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan, and Toulouse) recorded 120 cases of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (or 303 cases per 10,000 consultations), an increase compared to Week 45 (81 cases, 207 cases per 10,000 consultations).

• Weekly COVID-19 activity in emergency departments increased regionally in Week 46, with 308 suspected cases of COVID-19, or 99 per 10,000 consultations for the latest reporting period (compared to 222 suspected cases in Week 45, or 73 per 10,000 consultations)

• The R value estimated from regional data from the Oscour® network through 11/19/2022 was 1.17 (1.04–1.31), an increase compared to previous weeks and significantly higher than 1.

Gastroenteritis and Acute Diarrhea

• In hospital settings, according to data reported by emergency departments to the Oscour® network, gastroenteritis activity was low in week 46 of 2022. Admissions of all ages for a diagnosis of gastroenteritis were stable compared to the previous week. In week 46 of 2022, 241 admissions for gastroenteritis were recorded (including 100 patients under the age of 5), representing 0.8%/2.6% of all admissions (236 admissions in week 45 of 2022).

• In private practice, according to data from the region’s SOS Médecins associations, gastroenteritis activity was low in week 46 of 2022. Procedures for all ages involving a diagnosis of gastroenteritis remained stable compared to the previous week. In week 46 of 2022, 168 procedures for this diagnosis were recorded (including 44 patients under 5 years of age), representing 4.2% of the overall activity of the SOS Médecins associations (157 procedures in week 45 of 2022).

• According to data from the Sentinelles network, the incidence rate of acute diarrhea cases seen in general practice was 126 per 100,000 [59; 193], an increase compared to the previous week (55 per 100,000).

Bronchiolitis

• In hospital settings, according to data reported by emergency departments to the Oscour® network, visits and hospitalizations for a diagnosis of bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age were again on the rise compared to previous weeks. In week 46 of 2022, 528 visits for this diagnosis in this age group were recorded, representing 25.4% of visits in this age group (383 visits in week 45 of 2022). Of these visits, 207 were followed by hospitalization, representing a hospitalization rate of 39.2% for this diagnosis and 56.4% of all hospitalizations in this age group.

• In private practice, according to data from the SOS Médecins associations in the region (Montpellier, Nîmes, Perpignan, and Toulouse), procedures for a diagnosis of bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age were on the rise compared to previous weeks (Figure 2). In week 46 of 2022, 74 cases diagnosed with bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age were recorded, representing 19.2% of the overall activity of the SOS Médecins associations in this age group (62 cases in week 45 of 2022).