Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) treatment available today

hMPV (human metapneumovirus) is mostly an upper respiratory tract virus, presenting most frequently in the late winter as a "common cold". It can affect the throat, mouth, and nose. This virus triggers a classic infection, like the common cold. More rarely, it can cause lower-respiratory symptoms including asthma, COPD exacerbations, or viral pneumonia. Patients often develop it in winter or early spring, alongside the flu season. At least 4 lineages of hMPV exist: A1, A2, B1, and B2.

This virus is a common trigger for respiratory tract infections in the elderly, adults, children, and immunocompromised patients. Thankfully, it's most often a mild illness that comes and goes within a week or so. Most people have a couple of symptoms, which tend to dissipate on their own. Lower respiratory tract infections due to hMPV are relatively rare but can lead to worsening acute asthma symptoms, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.

This disease spreads from an infected person through close contact. It spreads through respiratory droplets with an incubation period of around 3 to 6 days. It quickly spreads into the respiratory tract.

hMPV is most commonly recorded in pediatric patients. It can occur in children younger than 2 years. Around 90% to 100% of children are infected by hMPV by the time they turn 5 to 10 years old.

Roughly 5% to 10% of pediatric hospitalizations occur due to hMPV triggering acute lower respiratory infections. In fact, children who are younger than 6 months and have hMPV were 3 times as likely to be hospitalized compared to patients between the ages of 6 months to 5 years.

The gold standard for treating is supportive medicine, which includes ensuring adequate hydration, and medicines to reduce fever like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If someone develops difficulty breathing with a high fever, they may have developed community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and should seek in-person care right away.

Moderna has started a clinical trial against the virus. As of 2019, the vaccine passed the first phase for being well-tolerated. However, more research is necessary to study the impact of this vaccine.

Supportive care is the most practical method for treating hMPV. Because this illness tends to clear up on its own, a healthcare provider can help suggest what may ease the symptoms. That means using OTC medication for controlling fever and pain or relying on decongestants for reducing sinus pressure.

You can also use a room humidifier or hot showers to ease the coughing and sore throat. Treatment to relieve the cold-like symptoms includes drinking a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration. While the body heals, people are advised to stay at home and rest. Doctors might recommend hydration with IV fluids, supplemental oxygen, and antipyretic agents.

A general consultation is an affordable method for managing the symptoms and reassessing the patient’s potential risk factors. A consultation can help patients find the right treatment. It is a proactive approach to the management of hMPV.

Because hMPV is a virus, like any other cold virus, it cannot be cured with antibiotics, because antibiotics only fight off bacteria.

Human metapneumovirus infections tend to cause mild symptoms. Therefore, most patients don’t need to contact a specialist. Supportive care should be enough to mitigate the fever and pain. It should go away in 7 to 10 days. However, if the symptoms worsen and people start to experience difficulty breathing, or wheezing, book an appointment with a healthcare provider or seek in-person care immediately by calling 911 if your symptoms are severe.

To diagnose hMPV, your doctor will do a full patient and physical history. They might suggest lab tests to find which virus caused the respiratory infection. Often, though, hMPV will be added to a list of possible viruses that you may have which all cause common cold symptoms.