Acute respiratory tract infections due to a human metapneumovirus in children: descriptive study and comparison with respiratory syncytial virus infections

Background. - A new paramyxovirus, the human metapneumovirus was recently isolated. We report the first French cases collected between 2000 and 2002. Material and methods. - Samples were obtained from nasopharyngeal aspirates from children hospitalised for acute respiratory tract infection in hospitals of Caen and Flers in Basse-Normandie. Human metapneumovirus was studied by polymerase chain reaction on negative samples for respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A and B virus, parainfluenza (1, 2 and 3) virus, adenovirus, coronavirus and rhinovirus. Comparison between metapneumovirus virus and respiratory syncytial virus infections was done after matching sex, age and infection month. Results. - Twenty-six human metapneumovirus infections were identified. A comparative study of a matched group of children infected by respiratory syncytial virus found no significative difference for hospitalisation motive, clinical criteria and treatment. Conclusion. - The human metapneurnovirus is responsible for typical acute bronchiolitis in children. (C) 2003 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.