title: Clinical and epidemiological comparison of human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in seoul, Korea, 2003-2008.
abstract: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) shares clinical and epidemiological characteristics with well-known respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological differences between HMPV- and RSV-induced wheezing illnesses. A total of 1,008 nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens was collected from 1,008 pediatric patients hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infection at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital from December 2003 to April 2008, and tested for seven common respiratory viruses. Conditions classified as wheezing illness were bronchiolitis, reactive airways disease, and bronchial asthma. HMPV caused a significantly lower proportion of wheezing illness when compared to RSV (48.1% vs. 82.2%, P<0.05). HMPV-induced wheezing illness occurred predominantly in older patients when compared to RSV patients (P<0.001). RSV infections peaked in the fall and winter followed by peaks of HMPV infection in winter and spring. Eosinophil counts were significantly higher (P<0.01) in RSV patients when compared to HMPV patients. These results show that human metapneumovirus patients exhibit several different clinical and epidemiological characteristics, such as higher proportion of wheezing illness, age and seasonal incidence, and eosinophil counts, when compared to RSV patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Asthma and Allergy Center, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea. kimck@paik.ac.kr
authors.forename: Chang Keun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jungi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Zak
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Callaway
authors.forename: Hyo Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Young-Yull
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Bo Moon
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons