Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing
Abstract Background Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been increasingly appreciated as a cause of lower respiratory tract infection among children. The purpose of this paper is to determine the radiographic and clinical features of children with HMPV lower respiratory disease. Case Presentation We re...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01973-1 |
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| author | Weihan Xu Xiaoyan Zhang Yuhong Guan Ruxuan He Xiang Zhang Jinrong Liu |
| author_facet | Weihan Xu Xiaoyan Zhang Yuhong Guan Ruxuan He Xiang Zhang Jinrong Liu |
| author_sort | Weihan Xu |
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| description | Abstract Background Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been increasingly appreciated as a cause of lower respiratory tract infection among children. The purpose of this paper is to determine the radiographic and clinical features of children with HMPV lower respiratory disease. Case Presentation We reviewed seven pediatric patients with severe pneumonia due to HMPV admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital were assessed in our study from January to July 2023. Unlike other common viral, lobar or segmental consolidation, air bronchograms, and bronchial wall thickening were the most commonly observed HRCT findings in HMPV-associated pneumonia. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, ranged 35 mg/L to 146 mg/L, and the median WBC count were significantly increased in children with HMPV-associated pneumonia than the normal level. Two patients were co-detected with Haemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae, respectively. Five patients were treated with empirical antibiotics prior to the bacterial test results. Conclusions Some pediatric HMPV-associated pneumonias were characterized by lobar or segmental consolidation in CT and the significantly elevated CRP levels, which may mimic Mycoplasma Pneumoniae or bacterial infection. Healthcare providers should consider HMPV as a possible causative pathogen, perform laboratory tests for prompt diagnosis, and limit unnecessary antibiotic treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a0b79114b6c54826afae5f6cf43327ed |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-a0b79114b6c54826afae5f6cf43327ed2025-08-20T02:15:16ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882025-05-015111610.1186/s13052-025-01973-1Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in BeijingWeihan Xu0Xiaoyan Zhang1Yuhong Guan2Ruxuan He3Xiang Zhang4Jinrong Liu5Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Background Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been increasingly appreciated as a cause of lower respiratory tract infection among children. The purpose of this paper is to determine the radiographic and clinical features of children with HMPV lower respiratory disease. Case Presentation We reviewed seven pediatric patients with severe pneumonia due to HMPV admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital were assessed in our study from January to July 2023. Unlike other common viral, lobar or segmental consolidation, air bronchograms, and bronchial wall thickening were the most commonly observed HRCT findings in HMPV-associated pneumonia. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, ranged 35 mg/L to 146 mg/L, and the median WBC count were significantly increased in children with HMPV-associated pneumonia than the normal level. Two patients were co-detected with Haemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae, respectively. Five patients were treated with empirical antibiotics prior to the bacterial test results. Conclusions Some pediatric HMPV-associated pneumonias were characterized by lobar or segmental consolidation in CT and the significantly elevated CRP levels, which may mimic Mycoplasma Pneumoniae or bacterial infection. Healthcare providers should consider HMPV as a possible causative pathogen, perform laboratory tests for prompt diagnosis, and limit unnecessary antibiotic treatment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01973-1Human metapneumovirusPneumoniaChildrenComputed tomography |
| spellingShingle | Weihan Xu Xiaoyan Zhang Yuhong Guan Ruxuan He Xiang Zhang Jinrong Liu Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing Italian Journal of Pediatrics Human metapneumovirus Pneumonia Children Computed tomography |
| title | Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing |
| title_full | Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing |
| title_fullStr | Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing |
| title_short | Clinical and CT characteristics of human metapneumovirus-associated severe pneumonia in children in Beijing |
| title_sort | clinical and ct characteristics of human metapneumovirus associated severe pneumonia in children in beijing |
| topic | Human metapneumovirus Pneumonia Children Computed tomography |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01973-1 |
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