HMPV - The Human Metapneumovirus

-
Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on Instagram Instagram.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus, as the name suggests, and a common cause of respiratory illness. Scientists in the Netherlands identified it in 2001. Children, people with weakened immune systems, and adults older than 65 are most susceptible to complications from HMPV infection. Most children who become infected with HMPV are 5 years old or younger. A small number of children (5-16%) who become infected develop a lower respiratory tract infection, such as pneumonia.


.


Causes:


HMPV is most commonly spread from person to person through close contact with someone who is infected via secretions from coughing and sneezing or by touching objects that have the virus on them. In the United States, HMPV is more likely to circulate beginning in the winter and lasting until or through the spring months. 

HMPV infection can also cause asthma flare-ups or worsen COPD symptoms. 


Symptoms:


Most people with HMPV have mild upper respiratory symptoms like a cold. These may include: 
  • Cough, 
  • Runny nose or nasal congestion, 
  • Sore throat, 
  • Fever.
In more severe cases, individuals may experience wheezing, difficulty breathing, and asthma flare-ups. Secondary lower respiratory infections may occur such as bronchiolitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia.

Diagnosis:

To diagnose a respiratory infection, in very few severe hospitalized cases, doctors may do a bronchoscopy where a small, flexible camera is inserted into the lung, and a sample of fluid is removed to test for viruses.

Treatment:

Doctors focus on symptomatic treatment where they prescribe OTC medicines, inhalers, etc. 

HMPV Case Highlights: 

Over 15 cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) have been detected in different regions of India this season. 

Puducherry has reported three cases, while Gujarat has confirmed five. 

Additionally, Assam recorded its first case.

Meanwhile, China said the rate of infections in the northern part of the country is declining. “The human metapneumovirus is not a new virus, and has been with humans for at least several decades," said Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, during a press briefing by China’s National Health Commission.

Earlier, China said that it was in close communication with the World Health Organisation (WHO) related to the situation of respiratory diseases, including HMPV. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ONCOLOGY_2_MELANOMA

-
Image
Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on Instagram  LAB IN THE BOX MELANOMA What is Melanoma? Melanoma is a form of skin cancer arising from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin. While it is less common than other skin cancers, it is significantly more dangerous due to its ability to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body if not caught early. Causes and Risk Factors The primary cause of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Factors that increase the risk of melanoma include: - Fair Skin : Less melanin provides less protection from UV radiation. - History of Sunburns : Severe, blistering sunburns, especially in early life, increase risk. - Excessive UV Exposure : Frequent use of tanning beds or extensive sun exposure. - Family History : A family history of melanoma increases risk. - Moles : Having many moles or unusual moles can be a risk factor. - Weakened Immune System : Immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk. Sign...
Read more

Warmer climate may Drive Fungi to be more dangerous to our Health!!

-
Image
  Warmer climate may Drive Fungi to be more dangerous to our Health!! The world is filled with tiny creatures that sometimes found it delicious. Bacteria and viruses are so obvious that they are pathogenic . However recent news from Duke University School of medicine found that raised temperature  cause a pathogenic fungus known as Cryptococcus deneoformans to turn its adaptative responses into overdrive. This increases its number of genetic changes, some of which might presumably lead to higher heat resistance, and others perhaps toward greater disease-causing potential . " Fungal diseases are on the rise, largely because of an increase in the number of people who have weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions," Gusa said. But at the same time, pathogenic fungi may be adapting to warmer temperatures as well. Materials  provided by  Duke University .                             ...
Read more

History of Biotechnology

-
Image
HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY: People have been harnessing biological processes to improve their quality of life for some 10,000 years, beginning with the first agricultural communities. Approximately 6,000 years ago, humans began to tap the biological processes of microorganisms in order to make bread, alcoholic beverages, and cheese and to preserve dairy products. But such processes are not what is meant today by biotechnology, a term first widely applied to the molecular and cellular technologies that began to emerge in the 1960s and ’70s. A fledgling “biotech” industry began to coalesce in the mid- to late 1970s, led by Genentech, a pharmaceutical company established in 1976 by Robert A. Swanson and Herbert W. Boyer to commercialize the recombinant DNA technology pioneered by Boyer, Paul Berg, and Stanley N. Cohen. Early companies such as Genentech, Amgen, Biogen, Cetus, and Genex began by manufacturing genetically engineered substances primarily for medical and environmental uses. For ...
Read more