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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Human metapneumovirus bronchiolitis in infancy is an important risk factor for asthma at age 5

M L García-García1, C Calvo, I Casas

  • 1Pediatrics Department, Severo Ochoa Hospital, Madrid, Spain. marialuzgarcia@terra.es

Pediatric Pulmonology
|April 13, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Infant human metapneumovirus (hMPV) bronchiolitis is a significant risk factor for developing asthma and other obstructive airway diseases by preschool age. This risk is comparable to that seen with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Allergology

Background:

  • Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a common cause of pediatric respiratory infections.
  • The link between hMPV-bronchiolitis and later wheezing development is not well understood.
  • This study investigates long-term outcomes following hMPV-bronchiolitis in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the incidence of asthma and other conditions at 3-5 years post-hMPV-bronchiolitis.
  • To compare outcomes between children with hMPV-bronchiolitis, RSV-bronchiolitis, and those without lower respiratory disease.
  • To identify risk factors for developing asthma in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 55 children (3-5 years old) with acute bronchiolitis (23 hMPV, 32 RSV) was studied.
  • A control group of 38 children with rotavirus gastroenteritis and no history of bronchiolitis was included.
  • Clinical data and allergy status (skin prick tests) were assessed at follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Asthma was significantly more frequent in children with hMPV-bronchiolitis (OR=5.21) and RSV-bronchiolitis (OR=4.68).
  • hMPV was the strongest predictor of preschool asthma (OR=15.9), followed by RSV-bronchiolitis (OR=10.1).
  • No significant differences were observed in allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, or food allergy prevalence.

Conclusions:

  • Infancy hMPV-bronchiolitis is strongly associated with asthma and bronchial obstructive diseases later in childhood.
  • The association between hMPV-bronchiolitis and subsequent asthma is as strong as that for RSV-bronchiolitis.
  • hMPV-bronchiolitis represents a significant risk factor for long-term respiratory health in children.
Abstract

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