Differences in clinical severity between genotype A and genotype B human metapneumovirus infection in children

The clinical spectrum of 69 episodes of metapneumovirus pediatric infection (55 episodes caused by genotype A and 14 episodes caused by genotype B) was analyzed. Diagnosis of pneumonia was more common and the illness severity index (determined on the basis of need for hospitalization, oxygen saturation < 90%, and intensive care unit stay) was higher for patients with metapneumovirus genotype A infection.