Virus

Metapneumovirus

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Metapneumovirus, Human Metapneumovirus, HMPV Infection

  • See Also
  1. Paramyxovirus
  2. Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  3. Acute Bronchiolitis
  4. Croup
  • Epidemiology
  1. Most common in winter and early spring (Northern hemisphere)
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Similar to viruses in the family Paramyxovirus (Paramyxoviridae)
    1. However has been reclassified as of 2016 into the family Pneumoviridae
    2. As with Paramyxovirus infections, spread by respiratory droplet
  2. First isolated and described in 2001, Netherlands
  3. Single stranded, negative sense RNA virus
  4. Helical symmetry
  • Findings
  1. Children (age <5 years)
    1. Acute Bronchiolitis
      1. Similar to RSV
      2. Peak age of affected children is 1-2 years (contrast with 6 months for RSV)
    2. Viral Pneumonia
    3. Croup (age <7-8 years)
      1. Responsible for most of Parainfluenza's related morbidity and mortality in children
  2. Older children and adults
    1. Upper Respiratory Infection
    2. Viral Pneumonia (elderly, Immunocompromised)
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. See Croup
  2. See Acute Bronchiolitis
  3. Adenovirus
  4. Influenza
  5. Parainfluenza
  6. Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  7. Rhinovirus
  • Management
  1. See Croup
  2. See Acute Bronchiolitis
  3. See Acute Respiratory Failure
  • Prognosis
  1. Severe disease risk factors
    1. Premature birth
    2. Age <6 months
    3. Immunocompromised status
    4. Chronic pulmonary disease
    5. Chronic neurologic disorders
    6. Chronic heart disease
  • References
  1. Panda (2014) Int J Infect Dis 25:45-52 +PMID: 24841931 [PubMed]
  2. Uddin (2023) Human Metapneumovirus, StatPearls +PMID: 32809745 [PubMed]