Table 4. Clinical characteristics and socioeconomic effects of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections in children, Finland, 2000–2001*.
| Variable | Age group, y† |
All children (n = 39) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 (n = 18) | 3–4 (n = 15) | 5–9 (n = 6) | ||
| Signs and symptoms | ||||
| Cough | 18 (100) | 15 (100) | 5 (83) | 38 (97) |
| Rhinitis | 17 (94) | 13 (87) | 5 (83) | 35 (90) |
| Fever >37.5°C | 13 (72) | 13 (87) | 2 (33) | 28 (72) |
| Vomiting | 1 (6) | 1 (7) | 0 | 2 (5) |
| Wheezing | 2 (11) | 1 (7) | 1 (17) | 4 (10) |
| Laryngitis | 1 (6) | 2 (13) | 0 | 3 (8) |
| Median duration of illness, d |
9.5 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
| Complications | ||||
| Acute otitis media | 11 (61) | 4 (27) | 1 (17) | 16 (41) |
| Pneumonia | 1 (6) | 0 | 0 | 1 (3) |
| Antimicrobial drug treatment |
11 (61) |
3 (20) |
1 (17) |
15 (38) |
| Absenteeism | ||||
| Child´s absence from daycare or school for >1 d | 10 (56) | 8 (53) | 3 (50) | 21 (54) |
| Mean duration of child’s absence, d‡ | 3.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| Parental absence from work for >1 d | 9 (50) | 4 (27) | 2 (33) | 15 (38) |
| Mean duration of parental absence, d‡ | 2.9 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 2.9 |
*Values are no. children (%) unless otherwise stated. †Age at diagnosis of hMPV infection. ‡Calculated for children or parents who were absent for at least 1 d.