Easy-to-Understand Guide to Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)

Easy-to-Understand Guide to Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)

What is Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and how does it differ from COVID-19?
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a prevalent virus that affects the respiratory system and causes cold-like symptoms. It's a familiar name in the world of viruses, belonging to the same family as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). While HMPV is usually mild, it can be more serious for babies, older adults, and people with weak immune systems.

How Does HMPV Spread?
HMPV spreads quickly, especially during the winter and spring. You can catch it by:

• Being near someone who coughs, sneezes, or talks while infected.
• Touching your face after touching contaminated surfaces like doorknobs.
• Having close contact, like handshakes or hugs, with an infected person.

Who Is Most at Risk?
While anyone can get HMPV, those at higher risk are:

• Newborns
• Children under 5
• People who are older than 65
• People with asthma who use steroids
• Those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Those with a weakened immune system due to conditions like cancer or HIV or who've had an organ transplant

Most HMPV symptoms are mild. They can include:

• Coughing
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

These usually go away in two to five days. But they can worsen and cause serious health issues in some cases. Adults with other health issues or a compromised immune system can sometimes get a severe middle ear infection with human metapneumovirus. If your symptoms last over two weeks or become severe, inform your doctor. 

How Serious Is Human Metapneumovirus?

A small number of people can have more serious HMPV symptoms, such as:

• Wheezing
• Asthma flare-ups 
• A hard time breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Bronchitis 
• Severe bronchiolitis (Most common in children, this chest infection can be fatal in rare cases.)
• Pneumonia 

Babies under one may have a hard time feeding correctly and may show symptoms like [specific symptoms]. Studies show that HMPV infections make up about 5% to 10% of hospitalisations among children. Data shows that up to 16% of them may get serious complications, like pneumonia. 

If you notice serious symptoms, tell your doctor or seek medical care immediately. You might need to be hospitalised so doctors can monitor your symptoms closely.

How to Prevent HMPV?
Although there’s no vaccine, you can lower the risk by:

• Washing hands regularly for 20 seconds.
• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoiding close contact with sick people.
• Keeping surfaces clean with disinfectants.

Human Metapneumovirus Diagnosis

Your doctor will typically do a detailed physical exam and ask about your personal and family medical history. 

They may take swabs from your nose, mouth, or throat. They might order a lab test called a rapid antigen test or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to check for the virus. 

If you or your child has severe symptoms, your doctor may perform a bronchoscopy. In that procedure, a thin tube with a camera on its tip is inserted through your throat to collect a fluid sample to check for the virus. 

Human Metapneumovirus Treatment

There’s no specific treatment or cure. Since most symptoms are mild and go away independently, you’ll need supportive care to manage your symptoms while you get well. 

To help ease your symptoms in the meantime, you can:

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers to ease symptoms like fever, pain, and coughing
• Use decongestants to help with stuffiness or a runny nose 
• Use an inhaler to help with breathing problems like wheezing or coughing
• Use a corticosteroid nasal spray to ease pressure inside your nose 

Your doctor may also prescribe a steroid to help with inflammation. 

Can You Prevent Human Metapneumovirus Infections?

There's no vaccine to prevent HMPV. However, since it spreads through close contact, there are some ways to help protect yourself and avoid infection. 

You can lower the risk to yourself and others by: 

• Staying away from people who are sick
• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching your mouth, eyes, or nose
• Keeping current on vaccinations and seeing your doctor for regular checkups
• Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Try to cough your elbow away from others.
• Using alcohol wipes or sanitisers after you sneeze or cough onto your hands
• Not touching high-contact surfaces like hand railings or doorknobs

Human Metapneumovirus FAQs

How long have you been contagious with human metapneumovirus?

HMPV takes about three to six days to develop, and symptoms last about as long as other mild respiratory viruses, from two to seven days.

Can you get HMPV twice?

You can get it more than once, but symptoms are typically milder after your first bout.

How do you get tested for human metapneumovirus?

Unless symptoms are severe, you are usually not tested for HMPV. If you are tested, your doctor typically gets a sample by swabbing your nose or throat. Sometimes, your doctor might order a chest X-ray or bronchoscopy.

How long does it take to recover from HMPV?

If you don't have a serious case, recovering from HMPV usually takes two days to a week. Symptoms like coughing may last a bit longer. Call your doctor if your symptoms or children's symptoms don't get better after a few days or if a fever lasts more than three days.

Stay healthy & informed.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice

SOURCES:

CDC: "Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)," "Symptoms of COVID-19," "COVID-19 can surge throughout the year," "About Human Metapneumovirus."

Virology Journal: "Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 96 pediatric human metapneumovirus infections in Henan, China after COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective analysis.

Cleveland Clinic: “Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).”

Chest Foundation: “Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV).”

StatPearls: “Human Metapneumovirus.”

American Lunch Association: “Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV),” “Learn About Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV).”

Illinois Department of Public Health: “Human Metapneumovirus.”