title: Human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in hospitalized danish children with acute respiratory tract infection.
abstract: The newly discovered human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been shown to be associated with respiratory illness. We determined the frequencies and clinical features of hMPV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in 374 Danish children with 383 episodes of acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). Study material comprised routine nasopharyngeal aspirates obtained during 2 winter seasons (November-May) 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 from children hospitalized at the Departments of Paediatrics, Hvidovre Hospital and Amager Hospital, Denmark. hMPV was detected in 11 (2.9%) and RSV in 190 (49.6%) ARTI episodes by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using primers targeting the hMPV N gene and the RSV L gene. Two children were co-infected with hMPV and RSV. They were excluded from statistical analysis. Hospitalization for ARTI caused by hMPV was restricted to very young children 1-6 months of age. Asthmatic bronchitis was diagnosed in 66.7% of hMPV and 10.6% of RSV-infected children (p < 0.001). Overall symptoms and clinical findings were similar among hMPV and RSV positive episodes, but more RSV-infected children required respiratory support. hMPV is present in young Danish children hospitalized with ARTI although less frequent than RSV and with a tendency to a milder clinical course.
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: von Linstow
authors.forename: Hans Henrik
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eugen-Olsen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Thilde
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nordmann Winther
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westh
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lundgren
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melbye
authors.forename: Birthe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Høgh
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D017677:Age Distribution; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral