Amid human metapneumovirus or hMPV scare, you must have met people warning you about its cold or flu-like symptoms. Generally, individuals infected with hMPV show signs such as cough, fever, and sore throat. While these are the common signs, there are also lesser known symptoms of hMPV, a viral pathogen in the Paramyxoviridae family. It may lead to health issues such as conjunctivitis that can leave you with red, and itchy eyes. Sometimes, kidneys of people with human metapneumovirus also get affected. So, along with the common signs, you should know about the unusual ones.
Human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus from the Paramyxoviridae family that was first identified in 2001. “It primarily affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and spreads through respiratory droplets, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces,” shares Dr Arvind Aggarwal, who specialises in internal medicine and infectious diseases.
It mostly targets children, older adults, and people with weak immune systems, but it can infect people of all ages. “It often causes illnesses with flu or common cold-like symptoms, but in severe cases, it may lead to pneumonia,” says Dr Aggarwal.
If you are infected with hMPV, you will have symptoms like:
Some people can get quite sick after being infected with hMPV. It may lead to inflammation of the airways to the lungs, known as bronchiolitis, according to the World Health Organization.
“In rare or severe cases, hMPV can affect various organ systems beyond the respiratory tract,” says pulmonologist Dr Sneha Tirpude. They can lead to lesser known symptoms of hMPV:
It may lead to conjunctivitis, which is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin membrane that protects the eye. It can lead to red, itchy, and watery eyes, which can come under the list of lesser known symptoms of hMPV,” says Dr Aggarwal. During an analysis, published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews in 2011, researchers found the conjunctivitis was reported by some people with hMPV, but the cases were few.
Acute kidney injury is experienced by a person when the kidneys suddenly stop filtering waste products from the blood. A 2020 study, published in Respiratory Care, showed that children hospitalised with hMPV may be at risk for acute kidney injury, and that the risk appears to increase with age. Less urine output, and fluid buildup are some of its signs.
Some of the lesser known symptoms of hMPV may be connected to the gut. “People may have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting,” says Dr Tirpude. During a 2020 study, published in Pathogens, an association was found between hMPV and vomiting, and diarrhea.
Neurological signs such as confusion, and lethargy are also lesser known symptoms of hMPV. During a 2023 research, published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that some of the children aged 1 month to 14 years who were infected with hMPV, showed danger signs. The lesser known symptoms of hMPV included altered consciousness, convulsions, and lethargy.
“Sometimes, people with hMPV may experience myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), leading to chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or heart failure,” says Dr Tirpude. Symptoms of more severe disease include chest pain, according to the World Health Organization.
These lesser-known symptoms of hMPV may arise due to:
Human metapneumovirus is spreading in different parts of the world. So, you should know the signs, including the lesser known symptoms of HMPV to get the right treatment.
HMPV is generally mild in healthy individuals but can become life-threatening in high-risk groups. Severe complications such as respiratory failure, pneumonia, or multi-organ dysfunction can lead to death, particularly in immunocompromised or critically ill patients.
The illness typically lasts 1-2 weeks, with mild cases resolving within 3-5 days. However, severe infections or complications may prolong recovery to several weeks. Persistent symptoms or prolonged recovery is more common in individuals with pre-existing health conditions or weakened immune systems.
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