Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Lecturer Member Cengiz Uzun said, “HMPV can cause more severe diseases, especially in babies aged 6-12 months, people over the age of 65, individuals with lung disease and people with weak immune systems. Approximately 10-12 percent of respiratory infections in children are caused by HMPV. He underlined that although most cases are mild, serious complications such as pneumonia can occur in 5-16 percent of children.
IT IS TRANSMITTED BY CONTACT
Listing the symptoms of the disease, Dr. Uzun said, “It includes cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, shortness of breath and rash on the body, and HMPV is spread through direct contact or touching virus-contaminated surfaces. “Coughing, sneezing, shaking hands, hugging and surfaces used in daily life such as phones and door handles can be counted among the ways of transmission,” he said.
ANTIBIOTICS HAVE NO PLACE IN THIS DISEASE AND ARE NOT EFFECTIVE
Talking about the treatment of the disease, Dr. Uzun said, “There is no specific antiviral drug, so treatment is applied based on symptoms. Antipyretics or cough suppressants can be used in this process. However, since HMPV is a virus, antibiotics have no place in this disease and are not effective,” he said.
HYGIENE RULES SHOULD BE ATTENTION
Dr. Uzun finally said:
“It is important to pay attention to hygiene rules to protect from infection. Hands should be washed regularly with soap and water or cleaned with alcohol-based disinfectants. During coughing or sneezing, the mouth and nose should be covered with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Additionally, touching the face, nose and eyes with unclean hands should be avoided.”
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