Clinical Features and Predictors of Severity in Children Hospitalized With Human Metapneumovirus: A Multicenter Italian Study - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #hMPV
- #pediatric hospitalization
- #respiratory infection
- The study focused on children hospitalized with human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Italy from 2023 to 2025, involving 312 children with a median age of 14 months.
- Most hospitalized children were under 5 years old, with infants under 1 year experiencing more severe respiratory symptoms, while older children had more underlying comorbidities and radiologic consolidation.
- Key predictors of severe outcomes, such as pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission and prolonged hospitalization, included comorbidities, moderate-to-severe respiratory distress, dehydration, and higher base excess levels.
- Co-infections were common but did not significantly affect severity, and simple bedside assessments of respiratory distress and hydration were emphasized for early risk stratification.