Respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus in children over two seasons with a high incidence of respiratory infections in Brazil.
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are one of the most important causes of death in children. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus first described in 2001, has now been detected in almost all continents. HMPV causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia with a clinical spectrum similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We describe the incidence of HMPV and RSV during two consecutive seasons with a high incidence of ARI in Aracaju, Brazil. HMPV was responsible for 24% of cases of bronchiolitis in the 1st season (April-May 2002) but was not found in the 2nd year (April-May 2003). RSV was recovered from 61 (55%) children with ARI in 2002 and from 72 (68%) in 2003. Children with RSV bronchiolitis in 2002 had more hypoxia but less wheezing than in 2003. The incidence of HMPV and RSV genotypes causing bronchiolitis varied between the years. Long-term prospective studies are required to better describe the epidemiology of these viruses in children.
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK.
Robert L
RL
Serafino
Ricardo Q
RQ
Gurgel
Winifred
W
Dove
C Anthony
CA
Hart
Luis E
LE
Cuevas
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D012621:Seasons