As everywhere in Quebec, the region is not immune to circulatory viruses. In the establishments of the Integrated University Center for Health and Social Services of the Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec (CIUSSS MCQ), the number of consultations has jumped over the past two weeks.
“We really saw that influenza, the flu, made a significant leap in Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec. But we still have a nice cocktail of viruses circulating, ”says Dr. Caroline Marcoux-Huard, medical adviser in public health, in a telephone interview with www.lanouvelle.net.
These viruses, she observes, may have a preference for certain types of clientele or population. One of them particularly affects toddlers. “It is one of the main culprits of bronchiolitis in children. But it can also be virulent in the elderly, ”says the medical advisor.
The large number of sick children can be explained in particular by the pandemic period which limited social interactions. “These interactions have always favored the construction of our immune system. We put everything on hold for two and a half years, which means that the children did not necessarily develop their immune system as they usually would have, notes Dr. Marcoux-Huard. They are therefore more vulnerable to what is circulating and there is an avalanche of viruses circulating like we had not seen during the two years of the pandemic. »
Influenza, for its part, generally affects older populations. But the situation is different this year. “It’s type A influenza that we’ve seen this year and which still seems to affect the youngest. It’s not something you see often. We see that children are more affected than they usually are, ”says the medical advisor.
The importance of prevention
One of the best means of protection once morest viruses remains vaccination, particularly in people susceptible to complications, insists Dr. Marcoux-Huard. This is the case for people with chronic diseases, heart disease, people with asthma, those who suffer from diabetes or who have a weakened immune system. “There are other ways to prevent, says the medical advisor. Much has been made of basic hygiene measures and respiratory etiquette. But we must also think regarding encouraging the practice of outdoor activities and maintaining a certain distance. Since we no longer have a mask, we don’t have to stick together. »
And for toddlers under 6 months old who cannot get flu and COVID shots due to their age, Dr. Caroline Marcoux-Huard suggests avoiding exposing them to the whole family. . “Often we are tempted to cajole them, to smooch them. We can afford to still have beautiful virtual meetings for babies who will be born soon or who have just seen the light of day, ”she says, while also inviting pregnant women to consider vaccination to avoid the transmission of virus to the baby.
What to do if you are sick?
When the disease strikes, there are various tools to see things more clearly and the CIUSSS MCQ website can greatly help in this regard. A page Are you sick? has been developed (https://ciusssmcq.ca/conseils-sante/vous-etes-malade/). It includes various sheets relating to bronchiolitis, fever, gastro, nasal hygiene, flu, laryngitis, otitis, colds, sinusitis and COVID-19. “We have different types of sheets that can guide the parent depending on what the child presents. For example, with fever, when should you consult? Do not forget that fever is a natural way to fight infections. Any fever does not necessarily have to result in a medical consultation,” emphasizes Dr. Marcoux-Huard.
Pharmacists are also good allies, she notes. “Particularly in the context of a shortage of certain medicines for children, they can guide us and help us, just like 8-1-1 with health professionals who answer calls. »
Concerns with the holidays
The approach of the holiday season and family gatherings leads health authorities to be extra vigilant. “If we want to be optimistic, we will hope that all the measures that we will deploy will result in less transmission and higher protection”, wishes the medical adviser aware that with the end of the pandemic in a way , people want to live in a certain normality. “It is certain that we will be very vigilant over the next few weeks, she assures. We are looking at the evolution of these viruses, emergency room consultations and affected groups to be as responsive as possible. The CIUSSS, through various departments and departments, examines the issue on a weekly if not daily basis to see how we can optimize our prevention measures and break the chains of transmission. »
Health care workers are made aware of the proper measures to take to avoid being a vector of transmission or catching the virus, because the absenteeism of these workers can have significant consequences in the service offer of the CIUSSS.
The population must also do its part. “Social solidarity is a bit what we are looking for now, because we must not increase the pressure on the already weakened system”, estimates the medical adviser.
That said, without switching to overly restrictive measures, the temperature, she recalls, allows the practice of outdoor activities, technology allows virtual meetings. “We are at a conjuncture of different elements. Without putting everything on hold, it may be better to favor a transition. And since we are not immune to any other new virus, we have to learn from what we have just experienced,” concludes Dr. Caroline Marcoux-Huard.
