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Human Metapneumovirus Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, Spain

Maria L García-García, Elena Pérez-Arenas, Pedro Pérez-Hernandez

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |March 6, 2023
    PubMed

    Insights

    An unusual outbreak of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Spanish children during the COVID-19 Omicron wave led to severe respiratory infections. Affected children were older, experienced more hypoxia and pneumonia, and required longer hospital stays and intensive care.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Virology

    Background:

    • The sixth wave of COVID-19 in Spain coincided with an unusual surge in human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections among children.
    • The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was prevalent during this period.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric respiratory infections caused by hMPV during the COVID-19 Omicron wave.
    • To identify any unusual features of this hMPV outbreak compared to previous seasons.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients admitted with respiratory infections during the specified period.
    • Clinical data collection including patient demographics, symptoms, diagnostic findings, and treatment received.
    • Comparison of clinical presentation and severity with historical hMPV outbreak data.

    Main Results:

    • Patients in this hMPV outbreak were older than typically observed.
    • Increased incidence of hypoxia, pneumonia, and prolonged hospital stays were noted.
    • A greater proportion of affected children required intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

    Conclusions:

    • The co-occurrence of COVID-19 Omicron wave and hMPV outbreak in Spain presented a unique clinical scenario.
    • Pediatric hMPV infections during this period exhibited increased severity, necessitating closer monitoring and potentially different management strategies.
    Keywords:
    COVID-19Falces-Romero IPozo FPérez-Arenas EPérez-Hernandez PRuiz SSARS-CoV-2SpainSpain. Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Apr [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2904.230046Suggested citation for this article: García-García MLchildrenet al. Human metapneumovirus infections during COVID-19 pandemichuman metapneumovirusoutbreakrespiratory infectionssevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2viruseszoonoses

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