Key points:

• In week 47 (November 20–26, 2023), emergency room visits rose sharply among children under 2 years of age, and to a lesser extent among those aged 2–14 (up 23% and 6%, respectively, or 6,469 and 3,904 visits), while remaining stable among adults. Hospitalizations following emergency room visits followed the same trend among children under 2 years of age, with a 23% increase (1,041 hospitalizations); they remained stable among adults and decreased slightly among children aged 2–14.

• Most indicators are on the rise among children. Seasonal respiratory indicators continue to rise, more markedly among children:

  • At levels significantly higher than in previous years: for pneumonia among children under 15 (+25%, or +124 cases among children under 2, +11%, or +189 cases among 2- to 14-year-olds). Among adults, the increase is moderate, at levels similar to previous years (+8%, or +191 cases).

  • At levels comparable to previous years for:

    • bronchiolitis and asthma in children under 2 years of age: +50% (2,332 more visits) for bronchiolitis, with an associated 51% increase in hospitalizations (+733) and a 31% hospitalization rate following a visit; +20% (305 more visits) for asthma

    • ENT infections and cough in children under 15 years of age (+24%, or +3,025 visits, and +19%, or +293 visits) - suspected COVID-19 infection in all age groups (+37% in children under 2 years of age, +19% in adults)

    • influenza/flu-like illness in all age groups (+89% in children, +20% in adults)

    • Acute bronchitis in all age groups (+37% in children, +12% in adults)

• Excluding respiratory conditions, there was an increase in visits for conjunctivitis across all age groups (+19%, or +1,068 visits, at levels consistent with or even lower than previous years).

• Regarding mental health indicators, visits for suicidal acts are on the rise among those under 15 and those aged 75 and older (respectively +15% and +29%, or +26 and 31 incidents), with levels slightly higher than in previous years among those under 15.