Human Metapneumovirus Infection in Hospitalized Children.

BACKGROUND: Most children are exposed to human metapneumovirus (HMPV) by the age of 5 y. This study aimed to describe the morbidity associated with HMPV infections in a cohort of children in the Midwest of the United States. METHODS: This was a retrospective 2-center cohort study including children (0-17 y old) hospitalized with HMPV infections at 2 tertiary care pediatric hospitals from 2009 to 2013. Demographics, chronic medical conditions, viral coinfections, and hospitalization characteristics, including the need for respiratory support, high-flow nasal cannula, CPAP, bi-level positive airway pressure, invasive mechanical ventilation, pediatric ICU admission, acute kidney injury (AKI), use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and length of stay, were collected. RESULTS: In total, 131 subjects were included. Those with one or more comorbidities were older than their otherwise healthy counterparts, with a median age of 2.8 y (interquartile range [IQR] 1.1-7.0) compared to 1.3 y (IQR 0.6-2.0, P < .001), respectively. Ninety-nine (75.6%) subjects required respiratory support; 72 (55.0%) subjects required nasal cannula, simple face mask, or tracheostomy mask as their maximum support. Additionally, 1 (0.8%) subject required high-flow nasal cannula, 1 (0.8%) subject required CPAP, 2 (1.5%) subjects required bi-level positive airway pressure, 15 (11.5%) subjects required invasive mechanical ventilation, 4 (3.1%) subjects required high-frequency oscillatory or jet ventilation, and 4 (3.1%) subjects required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Fifty-one (38.9%) subjects required pediatric ICU admission, and 16 (12.2%) subjects developed AKI. Subjects with AKI were significantly older than those without AKI at 5.4 y old (IQR 1.6-11.7) versus 1.9 y old (IQR 0.7-3.5, P = .003). After controlling for the presence of at least one comorbidity and cystic fibrosis, each year increase in age led to a 16% increase in the odds of AKI (P = .01). The median length of stay for the entire cohort was 4.0 d (IQR 2.7-7.0). CONCLUSIONS: Children hospitalized with HMPV may be at risk for AKI. Risk of HMPV-associated AKI appears to increase with age regardless of severity of respiratory illness or presence of comorbidities.

The role of human metapneumovirus in the critically ill adult patient.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to describe the role of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in critical illness and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected clinical and demographic information from a retrospective chart review, comparing patients with and without an intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Among patients admitted to the ICU, we assessed whether hMPV was "unlikely," "possibly," or "likely" the reason for ICU admission, based on a prespecified definition, and whether the patient met criteria for ARDS. RESULTS: We identified 128 hospitalized adults with hMPV infection. Forty hospitalized patients (31%) with hMPV infection required admission to the ICU. Among patients cared for in the ICU, hMPV was "possibly" the reason for ICU admission in 55% of patients and "likely" the reason in 38%. Forty-eight percent of ICU patients met criteria for ARDS. Although most patients admitted to the ICU had significant comorbidities or were immunosuppressed, 6 patients requiring ICU admission had more minor comorbidities and no underlying immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: Although most patients hospitalized with hMPV had chronic cardiac or pulmonary disease, hMPV can also be associated serious respiratory illness and ARDS in adult patients without significant comorbidities or immunosuppression.

Chest pain and anxiety in an adolescent: an unusual etiology.

Chest pain in children is commonly caused by benign etiologies but may be caused by conditions that carry significant morbidity if not treated. Emergency medicine physicians must identify the patients that require further evaluation and treatment. We describe a case of a 13-year-old boy with 10 months of progressive chest pain that had been attributed to anxiety and was ultimately diagnosed as an esophageal duplication cyst requiring surgical repair.