Abstract
RATIONALE: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emerging respiratory pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory illness. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of hMPV and compare them to those of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).METHODS: One thousand eight children with upper and lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchiolitis, reactive airway disease, asthma exacerbation, croup) were hospitalized for 5 years (from December 2003 to April 2008). Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for seven respiratory viruses by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction. Complete blood counts, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), serum eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) were measured.RESULTS: The detection rates of RSV and hMPV were 26.0% and 7.2%, respectively. The peak age of hMPV was older than one of RSV (19.6 ± 10.4 Vs 13.0 ± 17.3 months, P = 0.0003). The peak infections with hMPV occurred from November to May, and RSV from September to February. The prevalence of wheezing related disease (bronchiolitis, reactive airway disease, asthma exacerbation) was 48.1% in children with hMPV infection compared to 82.2% in RSV (P = 0.0547). Blood eosinophil count(%) was lower in hMPV compared to RSV (1.00 ± 1.62 Vs 1.77 ± 2.06, P = 0.0033).CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and epidemiologic features of hMPV infection differed with respect to peak age, prevalence, seasonality, blood eosinophil count and wheezing related diseases when compared to RSV infection. RATIONALE: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emerging respiratory pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory illness. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of hMPV and compare them to those of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). METHODS: One thousand eight children with upper and lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchiolitis, reactive airway disease, asthma exacerbation, croup) were hospitalized for 5 years (from December 2003 to April 2008). Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for seven respiratory viruses by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction. Complete blood counts, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), serum eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) were measured. RESULTS: The detection rates of RSV and hMPV were 26.0% and 7.2%, respectively. The peak age of hMPV was older than one of RSV (19.6 ± 10.4 Vs 13.0 ± 17.3 months, P = 0.0003). The peak infections with hMPV occurred from November to May, and RSV from September to February. The prevalence of wheezing related disease (bronchiolitis, reactive airway disease, asthma exacerbation) was 48.1% in children with hMPV infection compared to 82.2% in RSV (P = 0.0547). Blood eosinophil count(%) was lower in hMPV compared to RSV (1.00 ± 1.62 Vs 1.77 ± 2.06, P = 0.0033). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and epidemiologic features of hMPV infection differed with respect to peak age, prevalence, seasonality, blood eosinophil count and wheezing related diseases when compared to RSV infection.
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