Human metapneumovirus and lower respiratory tract disease in otherwise healthy infants and children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We sought to determine the role of human metapneumovirus in lower respiratory tract illness in previously healthy infants and children.

Methods

We tested nasal-wash specimens, obtained over a 25-year period from otherwise healthy children presenting with acute respiratory tract illness, for human metapneumovirus.

Results

A viral cause other than human metapneumovirus was determined for 279 of 687 visits for acute lower respiratory tract illness (41 percent) by 463 children in a population of 2009 infants and children prospectively seen from 1976 to 2001. There were 408 visits for lower respiratory tract illness by 321 children for which no cause was identified. Of these 321 children, specimens from 248 were available. Forty-nine of these 248 specimens (20 p

SUBMITTER: Williams JV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1831873 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature