A Review on Human Metapneumovirus and Human Bocavirus Associated with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

Abstract

One of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality among young children in developing nations is acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). It is also highly contagious, widely prevalent, and transmissible from person to person. It risks young children, the elderly, and those with immune system disorders. Acute respiratory infections are thought to cause 2.6 million child deaths annually worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. Infections in children with human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and bocavirus (HBoV) are linked to a high prevalence of ARTIs. It has been determined that hMPV is the second-leading cause of infant bronchiolitis, after the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Although HBoV was first discovered in children's airways, the high detection rates of other viral pathogens and the discovery of HBoV in stool raise doubts about the virus's significance in respiratory tract infections. According to the published literature, only a few studies have identified ARTIs or demonstrated the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of ARTIs. This review article aims to thoroughly explain the aetiology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and management of hMPV and HBoV.