Respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus in children over two seasons with a high incidence of respiratory infections in Brazil

Ann Trop Paediatr. 2004 Sep;24(3):213-7. doi: 10.1179/027249304225018957.

Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are one of the most important causes of death in children. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus first described in 2001, has now been detected in almost all continents. HMPV causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia with a clinical spectrum similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We describe the incidence of HMPV and RSV during two consecutive seasons with a high incidence of ARI in Aracaju, Brazil. HMPV was responsible for 24% of cases of bronchiolitis in the 1st season (April-May 2002) but was not found in the 2nd year (April-May 2003). RSV was recovered from 61 (55%) children with ARI in 2002 and from 72 (68%) in 2003. Children with RSV bronchiolitis in 2002 had more hypoxia but less wheezing than in 2003. The incidence of HMPV and RSV genotypes causing bronchiolitis varied between the years. Long-term prospective studies are required to better describe the epidemiology of these viruses in children.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Bronchiolitis / epidemiology
  • Bronchiolitis / virology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Metapneumovirus* / classification
  • Metapneumovirus* / genetics
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / virology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / classification
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / genetics
  • Seasons