Respiratory Distress in Human Metapneumovirus Infection with High-inflammatory Cytokinemia

We encountered two human metapneumovirus (HMPV)-infected children who developed respiratory distress due to bronchopneumonia during hospitalization. There was no evidence of abnormal findings in the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tracts or the nervous or mucocutaneous systems. Their respiratory conditions rapidly improved upon the initiation of steroid therapy. Increases and decreases in serum concentrations of various inflammatory cytokines, including interferon-γ, and interleukin-6/10, were evaluated before and after steroid administration. General practitioners should be aware of the possibility of high-inflammatory cytokinemia when examining and treating children with HMPV infection and respiratory distress due to bronchopneumonia.