Clinical Features of Human Metapneumovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Hospitalized Children.
- Author:
Yu Kyung KIM
1
;
Jin Woo KIM
;
Young Sun WEE
;
Eun Gyong YOO
;
Man Yong HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Pochon CHA University, Sungnam, Korea. drmesh@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Human metapneumovirus;
Respiratory syncytial virus;
Lower respiratory infection;
Children
- MeSH:
Asthma;
Bronchiolitis;
Bronchitis;
Child;
Fever;
Humans;
Incidence;
Leukocyte Count;
Metapneumovirus;
Pneumonia;
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses;
Respiratory Tract Infections;
Retrospective Studies;
Viruses
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
2009;19(1):12-19
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE:To identify the clinical features of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children. METHODS:The participants of our study were 1,104 children who were admitted to Bungdang CHA hospital for lower respiratory infection from August 2006 through July 2007. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from the patients, and viruses were identified by RT-PCR. The clinical features of 51 patients with hMPV infection and 138 patients with RSV infection were compared by retrospective review of their medical records. RESULTS:The peak incidence of hMPV infection was noted in April, and that of RSV was noted in November. Both viruses had the highest incidence in patients age <1 year and hMPV infections occurred in 40% and 25% of patients age <6 months, respectively. In the hMPV group, 33.4% of the patients were age > or =2 years, while in the RSV group, 19% were age > or =2 years. In both groups, pneumonia was the most common clinical diagnosis, followed by acute bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis, and asthma. The white blood cell counts were higher in the RSV group, and fever was more frequent on admission in the hMPV group. CONCLUSION:hMPV was the fourth most common virus causing lower respiratory tract infections in children. The clinical features of hMPV infection were similar to those of RSV infection. This study may be helpful for the effective treatment of lower respiratory tract infection in children.
