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Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a relative newly described virus. It was first isolated in 2001 and currently appears to be one of the most significant and common human viral infections. Retrospective serologic studies demonstrated the presence of HMPV antibodies in humans more than 50 years earlier. Although the virus was primarily known as causative agent of respiratory tract infections in children, HMPV is an important cause of respiratory infections in adults as well. Almost all children are infected by HMPV below the age of five; the repeated infections throughout life indicate transient immunity. HMPV infections usually are mild and self-limiting, but in the frail elderly and the immunocompromised patients, the clinical course can be complicated.
HMPV is distributed worldwide and has a seasonal distribution comparable to that of influenza viruses and RSV. It tends to strike in the late winter and early spring [11,24,25]. In young children, HMPV is the second most common cause of lower RTI after RSV, with children less than one year of age showing the highest rates of infection
Conclusion:
HMPV is an important pathogen causing viral RTI. People at risk are the elderly, the immunocompromised patients and patients with cardiac or pulmonary diseases. While HMPV infections are mild and self-limiting in the majority of adults, clinical course can be complicated in these risk groups and associated morbidity and mortality are considerable.
