The link between HMPV and ENT diseases. HMPV, first identified in 2001, is a common cause of respiratory infection in children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, but its role in ENT diseases has remained unclear. This systematic review identified 12 laboratory-confirmed studies involving 2302 patients, of whom 88.3% were children. Acute otitis media was the most commonly reported ENT manifestation (in 50.0% of studies), followed by upper respiratory tract infection (25.0%); recurrent sinusitis with unilateral choanal atresia, chronic rhinosinusitis, and chronic tonsillitis with adenotonsillar hypertrophy were each reported in 8.3% of studies. RT-PCR was the most frequently used diagnostic method (41.67% of studies).

What clinicians should note. All included studies (100%) reported antibiotic use even though the pathogen was viral, and 33.3% of studies lacked follow-up data, underscoring heterogeneity in diagnostic and reporting practices. The authors emphasize that current evidence suggests a possible association between HMPV and ENT manifestations but is insufficient to establish causality; better-designed studies are needed to clarify the relationship.

The work titled “Human Metapneumovirus and Its Association With Otorhinolaryngological Manifestations: A Systematic Review With Descriptive Synthesis”, was published on Eye & ENT Research (published on June 16, 2026).
DOI：10.1002/eer3.70044