Article in Japanese

Comparison of the clinical features of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in children between pediatric patients with severe mental and physical disabilities and those without underlying diseases at a children's hospital in Japan

Akihiko SHIMIZU¹⁾

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common etiologic pathogen of respiratory tract infections in children. This study describes the differences in clinical characteristics of HMPV infection in children with severe mental and physical disabilities (SMPD) and those without underlying diseases. This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study of HMPV infection at Gunma Children's Medical Center. All of the HMPV cases were detected in respiratory tract samples between January 2015 and August 2018 and identified from the Medical Center's database. The patients' demographic and clinical data were analyzed in order to compare the characteristics of HMPV infection between the two groups. Seventeen patients with SMPD and 20 without underlying diseases were included. The patients with SMPD were significantly older than those without underlying diseases (Median months; 68.9 vs. 17.0, p=0.002). Median length of stay was longer in the patients with SMPD (11.5 days vs. 6.0 days, p=0.002). The proportion of supplemental oxygen, systemic steroids and antibiotics administration was higher in the patients with SMPD (oxygen; 82% vs. 35%, p=0.007, systemic steroids; 35% vs. 0%, p=0.005, antibiotics; 88% vs. 40%, p=0.005). HMPV infection was proved to be a substantial burden for children with SMPD.

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1) Department of Allergy, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Gunma Children's Medical Center

Key words	human metapneumovirus, severe mental and physical disabilities
Received	March 7, 2019
Accepted	May 23, 2019

31 (3)：235─240,2019