Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review

Shamsun Nahar Ahmed; DebJyoti Mukharjee; Shameem Akhter

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

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Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review

Shamsun Nahar Ahmed^*

, DebJyoti Mukharjee

, Shameem Akhter

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 10, Issue 2)

Received: 29 April 2025 Accepted: 14 May 2025 Published: 18 June 2025

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Abstract

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common virus associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) in children. We aimed to estimate the global prevalence, hospital admissions, and clinical complications of HMPV-associated ALRI in children. Between 2005 and 2024, we estimated the global burden of human metapneumovirus-associated ALRIs in children from more than 30 studies. We included data for any length of study period. We included data on the proportion of HMPV-positive cases among hospitalized ALRI cases and patient attending outdoor wings with complain of severe or mild respiratory complications. According to estimates, HMPV caused 14.2 million ALRI cases in children under the age of five in 2018, which resulted in 643,000 hospital admissions and 7,700 in-hospital deaths. Children hospitalized with HMPV infection, as compared with those hospitalized without HMPV infection, were older and more likely to receive a diagnosis of pneumonia or asthma, to require supplemental oxygen, and to have a longer stay in the intensive care unit. Fever (97%) and cough (96%) were the most common presenting symptoms of HMPV-associated pneumonia and were also common symptoms of other pathogens. This study describes global prevalence and clinical complications of HMPV associated ALRIs in children. Clinical features did not reliably distinguish HMPV-associated ALRI from other respiratory infections.

Published in	International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
Page(s)	39-46
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRIs), Global Burden, Pneumonia

References

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APA Style

Ahmed, S. N., Mukharjee, D., Akhter, S. (2025). Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 10(2), 39-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

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ACS Style

Ahmed, S. N.; Mukharjee, D.; Akhter, S. Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2025, 10(2), 39-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

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AMA Style

Ahmed SN, Mukharjee D, Akhter S. Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2025;10(2):39-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12,
  author = {Shamsun Nahar Ahmed and DebJyoti Mukharjee and Shameem Akhter},
  title = {Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review
},
  journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {39-46},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20251002.12},
  abstract = {Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common virus associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) in children. We aimed to estimate the global prevalence, hospital admissions, and clinical complications of HMPV-associated ALRI in children. Between 2005 and 2024, we estimated the global burden of human metapneumovirus-associated ALRIs in children from more than 30 studies. We included data for any length of study period. We included data on the proportion of HMPV-positive cases among hospitalized ALRI cases and patient attending outdoor wings with complain of severe or mild respiratory complications. According to estimates, HMPV caused 14.2 million ALRI cases in children under the age of five in 2018, which resulted in 643,000 hospital admissions and 7,700 in-hospital deaths. Children hospitalized with HMPV infection, as compared with those hospitalized without HMPV infection, were older and more likely to receive a diagnosis of pneumonia or asthma, to require supplemental oxygen, and to have a longer stay in the intensive care unit. Fever (97%) and cough (96%) were the most common presenting symptoms of HMPV-associated pneumonia and were also common symptoms of other pathogens. This study describes global prevalence and clinical complications of HMPV associated ALRIs in children. Clinical features did not reliably distinguish HMPV-associated ALRI from other respiratory infections.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review

AU  - Shamsun Nahar Ahmed
AU  - DebJyoti Mukharjee
AU  - Shameem Akhter
Y1  - 2025/06/18
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
SP  - 39
EP  - 46
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-966X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
AB  - Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common virus associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) in children. We aimed to estimate the global prevalence, hospital admissions, and clinical complications of HMPV-associated ALRI in children. Between 2005 and 2024, we estimated the global burden of human metapneumovirus-associated ALRIs in children from more than 30 studies. We included data for any length of study period. We included data on the proportion of HMPV-positive cases among hospitalized ALRI cases and patient attending outdoor wings with complain of severe or mild respiratory complications. According to estimates, HMPV caused 14.2 million ALRI cases in children under the age of five in 2018, which resulted in 643,000 hospital admissions and 7,700 in-hospital deaths. Children hospitalized with HMPV infection, as compared with those hospitalized without HMPV infection, were older and more likely to receive a diagnosis of pneumonia or asthma, to require supplemental oxygen, and to have a longer stay in the intensive care unit. Fever (97%) and cough (96%) were the most common presenting symptoms of HMPV-associated pneumonia and were also common symptoms of other pathogens. This study describes global prevalence and clinical complications of HMPV associated ALRIs in children. Clinical features did not reliably distinguish HMPV-associated ALRI from other respiratory infections.

VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Shamsun Nahar Ahmed

Department of Microbiology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6416-0132
DebJyoti Mukharjee

Department of Microbiology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-2595-0819
Shameem Akhter

Department of Microbiology, United Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4514-1582

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APA Style

Ahmed, S. N., Mukharjee, D., Akhter, S. (2025). Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 10(2), 39-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

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ACS Style

Ahmed, S. N.; Mukharjee, D.; Akhter, S. Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2025, 10(2), 39-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

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AMA Style

Ahmed SN, Mukharjee D, Akhter S. Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2025;10(2):39-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12,
  author = {Shamsun Nahar Ahmed and DebJyoti Mukharjee and Shameem Akhter},
  title = {Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review
},
  journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {39-46},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20251002.12},
  abstract = {Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common virus associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) in children. We aimed to estimate the global prevalence, hospital admissions, and clinical complications of HMPV-associated ALRI in children. Between 2005 and 2024, we estimated the global burden of human metapneumovirus-associated ALRIs in children from more than 30 studies. We included data for any length of study period. We included data on the proportion of HMPV-positive cases among hospitalized ALRI cases and patient attending outdoor wings with complain of severe or mild respiratory complications. According to estimates, HMPV caused 14.2 million ALRI cases in children under the age of five in 2018, which resulted in 643,000 hospital admissions and 7,700 in-hospital deaths. Children hospitalized with HMPV infection, as compared with those hospitalized without HMPV infection, were older and more likely to receive a diagnosis of pneumonia or asthma, to require supplemental oxygen, and to have a longer stay in the intensive care unit. Fever (97%) and cough (96%) were the most common presenting symptoms of HMPV-associated pneumonia and were also common symptoms of other pathogens. This study describes global prevalence and clinical complications of HMPV associated ALRIs in children. Clinical features did not reliably distinguish HMPV-associated ALRI from other respiratory infections.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Global Burden and Clinical Complications of Human Metapneumovirus Associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infection in Children: A Short Review

AU  - Shamsun Nahar Ahmed
AU  - DebJyoti Mukharjee
AU  - Shameem Akhter
Y1  - 2025/06/18
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
SP  - 39
EP  - 46
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-966X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20251002.12
AB  - Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common virus associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) in children. We aimed to estimate the global prevalence, hospital admissions, and clinical complications of HMPV-associated ALRI in children. Between 2005 and 2024, we estimated the global burden of human metapneumovirus-associated ALRIs in children from more than 30 studies. We included data for any length of study period. We included data on the proportion of HMPV-positive cases among hospitalized ALRI cases and patient attending outdoor wings with complain of severe or mild respiratory complications. According to estimates, HMPV caused 14.2 million ALRI cases in children under the age of five in 2018, which resulted in 643,000 hospital admissions and 7,700 in-hospital deaths. Children hospitalized with HMPV infection, as compared with those hospitalized without HMPV infection, were older and more likely to receive a diagnosis of pneumonia or asthma, to require supplemental oxygen, and to have a longer stay in the intensive care unit. Fever (97%) and cough (96%) were the most common presenting symptoms of HMPV-associated pneumonia and were also common symptoms of other pathogens. This study describes global prevalence and clinical complications of HMPV associated ALRIs in children. Clinical features did not reliably distinguish HMPV-associated ALRI from other respiratory infections.

VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download