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AIM: Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a common cause of hospitalisation in children; yet there are currently no preventative licensed vaccines or specific treatments available. Our aim was to describe the clinical profile and seasonality of hospitalised children with hMPV, and to highlight those at higher risk of severe disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective audit at a single quaternary centre, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia. Clinical and epidemiological data were extracted from the electronic medical record for any child (0-18 years) with a positive respiratory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for hMPV between May 2016 and December 2023 (study duration 7.5 years). RESULTS: A total of 1296 children who tested positive for hMPV between May 2016 and December 2023 were included in our study. Children aged < 2 years made up 50% of the cohort (n = 648). Seasonality reflected a consistent end-of-winter rise in case numbers, except during the COVID-19 pandemic when there were no reported cases of hMPV but a spike in case numbers the following year. Of those admitted, 41.2% had a comorbidity such as prematurity, cerebral palsy or malignancy. Children with comorbidities were more likely to have a longer duration of hospital stay with a median of 3 days (IQR 1-7) compared with 1 day (IQR 0-3) and be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (16.1% compared with 6.7%). Three children died within 30 days of returning a positive PCR, all of whom had an underlying malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study describes the impact of hMPV on hospitalisation at a quaternary centre. Younger children, particularly those aged < 2 years, and those with comorbidities were at a higher risk of ICU admission. Prevention strategies are needed to protect children from hMPV infection.
Hibbert et al. (Mon,) studied this question.