HMPV Brain Inflammation Risks: After China, several countries including India have reported an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). According to Cleveland Clinic, HMPV is a virus that usually causes symptoms similar to the common cold. Most cases are mild, but young children, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for serious illness.
According to researchers, about 10 percent to 12 percent of respiratory illnesses in children are caused by HMPV. While most cases are mild, but about 5 percent to 16 percent of children will develop a lower respiratory tract infection like pneumonia.
Meanwhile, doctors told Financial Express.com that although HMPV is primarily a respiratory virus, it has also been associated with neurological complications, including immune-mediated encephalitis.
“Encephalitis is a serious condition where inflammation of the brain occurs, often caused by an overactive immune system attacking healthy brain tissue in response to a viral infection. In rare cases, HMPV may cross the blood-brain barrier, triggering direct brain inflammation or provoking an excessive immune response. Symptoms of HMPV-related encephalitis include severe headaches, confusion, lethargy, seizures, and in extreme cases, altered consciousness,” Dr Rohan Aurangabadwalla
Consultant Pulmonology, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai told Financial Express.com.
In children, additional warning signs may be developmental regression or behavioral changes. Although cases remain uncommon, research published in peer-reviewed journals such as Pediatrics and Clinical Infectious Diseases has documented instances of HMPV-induced encephalitis, particularly affecting immunocompromised patients and young children, Dr. Aurangabadwalla said.
Management typically involves supportive care and immunomodulatory treatments like corticosteroids or intravenous immunoglobulins to calm the immune response. Early intervention can significantly impact outcomes, making public awareness of severe symptoms crucial.
“Human metapneumovirus, usually known for respiratory infections, can—though rarely—trigger life-threatening brain inflammation. Recognizing early neurological symptoms may save lives,” he added.
Dr Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology, Fortis Hospital revealed that HMP virus can travel to the brain, or it can trigger our immunity, which can cause inflammation in the brain, what is known as immune-mediated encephalitis.
“The inflammation of the brain leads to symptoms like fever, vomiting, decreased consciousness, seizures, and weakness in the body, or paralysis. This can be a very serious disorder which is caused by an attack of abnormal immunity triggered by the virus on the brain cells. This can be diagnosed by doing an MRI of the brain. Sometimes, we need an EEG, and we can do a brain fluid examination called a CSF examination to evaluate the amount of inflammation in the brain,” Dr. Gupta told Financial Express.com.
We need to treat it with medicines to reduce brain pressure, treat fever, treat seizures, and immunomodulatory medicines which normalize the body’s immune reactions, to prevent and heal the injury to the brain, which can help people to get better, he said.