[Epidemiological and clinical description of human metapneumovirus infectious diseases in children].

BACKGROUND

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a recently identified respiratory virus, is a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infection in children during winter. The aims of this study were to outline epidemiological and clinical presentations of hMPV infectious diseases in young children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective study was conducted from November 2007 to April2008 in children under 2 years of age admitted to the University Children's Hospital of Tours, France, for acute respiratory infection. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were systematically tested for several respiratory viruses. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hMPV-infected children were compared to those of patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viral (OTH) infections.

RESULTS

A total of 374 children were enrolled in this study. Viral investigations detected 22 (6 %) hMPV infections, 177 (47 %) RSV infections, and 175 (47 %) presumed or demonstrated other viruses. The hMPV infection had a seasonal peak in December, similar to RSV, and was uncommon after January. Most of the patients infected with hMPV were under 1 year of age and bronchiolitis was the predominant diagnosis in 90 % of these patients with clinical symptoms of a lower respiratory tract infection. The severity of the disease, estimated from the requirement of respiratory or nutritional assistance, was similar to those of RSV patients, but was higher than those in the OTH group. hMPV was more frequently detected in patients with chronic pathology, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart defect, or neuromuscular disorders, and in patients who had been previously admitted for bronchiolitis.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight that hMPV plays an important role in seasonal acute respiratory tract infections in children during winter, with a severity similar to RSV infections.