Treatment of severe human metapneumovirus (hMPV) pneumonia in an immunocompromised child with oral ribavirin and IVIG.

BACKGROUND: The clinical manifestations of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection resemble those of respiratory syncytial virus with the most severe disease occurring in infants, the elderly, chronically ill, and immunocompromised hosts.

OBSERVATION: We present a case of a 2-year-old girl undergoing intensive chemotherapy for Burkitt lymphoma who developed severe hMPV pneumonia. Rapid and complete recovery was observed after treatment with oral ribavirin and intravenous immunoglobulin.

CONCLUSION: As hMPV can cause severe pneumonia in immunocompromised patients and due to the reports of effective treatment with ribavirin, clinical studies to elucidate the role of ribavirin in treatment of hMPV pneumonia may be needed.