Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in immunocompromised children.

Abstract Background Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a major cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infection (URTI, LRTI) in children. The prognosis of hMPV is unclear in immunocompromised patients. Objectives To describe the characteristics of hMPV infection in immunocompromised pediatric patients and to review the literature. Study design This retrospective study included 39 immunocompromised children (age 0–18 years) with proven hMPV infection attending two tertiary pediatric medical centers in 2004–2014. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were collected from the medical files. Results Median age was 6 years. Seven patients had primary immune deficiency and 32, secondary immune deficiency, including 9 patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Most cases (92%) occurred in January–May. Twenty patients (51%) had lower respiratory tract infection and 17 (44%), upper respiratory tract infection; 2 patients (5%) had fever only. Presenting symptoms were fever (70%), cough (54%), and rhinorrhea (35%). Severe lymphopenia ( Conclusions Infection with hMPV may be associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. Death was associated with bacterial and fungal co-infection.