China on Friday confirmed that it was monitoring pneumonia cases of an unknown origin, with cases of some respiratory diseases expected to rise through the winter. Among the respiratory illnesses reported among the Chinese population in the winter are rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus.
According to Reuters, the human metapneumovirus or HMPV is spreading among people under the age of 14 in China, especially in northern provinces. The report added that a Shanghai hospital warned the public against blindly using antiviral drugs to fight human metapneumovirus, for which there is no vaccine but whose symptoms resemble those of a cold. In light of the coronavirus outbreak which originated in Wuhan, the world is looking at the upward trend in HMPV cases in China with fear.
HMPV symptoms and risk groups
People over 65 and children under 5 are most vulnerable to Human metapneumovirus (HMPV). If contracted, the HMPV will cause symptoms similar to those of the common cold. Most patients are likely to get a mild infection, but about 5% to 16% of children will develop a lower respiratory tract infection like pneumonia.
Cough, wheeze, runny nose, and sore throat are among the symptoms of a mild HMPV infection. However, HMPV can sometimes cause complications.
Citing medical researchers, the Cleveland Clinic argue that about 10% to 12% of respiratory illnesses in children are caused by HMPV. The human metapneumovirus is similar to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) as it is part of the same genus as RSV-causing pneumovirus. While they both cause similar symptoms, the peak age of HMPV is identified to be between 6 and 12 months while the RSV is more likely to cause severe illness in infants younger than 6 months.
When should HMPV patients seek medical help?
According to medical bulletins, a patient should reach out to healthcare professionals if symptoms don’t start to improve within a few days or, in the case of a toddler, the fever lasts longer than three days.
In extreme cases, the virus may cause cyanosis in some patients. Cyanosis is when your skin, lips and/or nails turn a bluish tone. It occurs when your blood lacks the oxygen it needs to reach the different tissues in your body. Some others may experience high fever (over 103 degrees Fahrenheit /40 degrees Celsius) or difficulty in breathing. In such cases, the patients should seek help at the nearby hospital.
Antibiotic for a viral disease? Here's why
Sometimes, people who get pneumonia from HMPV also get a bacterial infection at the same time as a secondary infection. The Mayo Clinic points out that some doctors may prescribe antibiotics at this juncture to treat the secondary infection.
