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Human influenza (HI) A/B, human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (MPV), human rhinovirus (HRV) and human parainfluenza (HPIV) 1/2/3/4 are respiratory infections of upper and lower respiratory tract in infants and young children. They cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Influenza is a negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus. Its morphology is spherical or filamentous with a diameter of 80 to120 nm. Its most severe symptoms are associated with influenza A viruses. Many sub-types of influenza A viruses are known and classified according to the origin of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Influenza B viruses are antigenically more stable than influenza A. This explains that they cause less severe epidemics.

RSV is a negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus. The virion is variable in shape and size (average diameter from 120 to 300 nm). It is also unstable in the environment (surviving only a few hours on environmental surfaces).

MPV is a negative-sense, single stranded RNA virus. Early assessments suggest that this virus may be similar to respiratory syncytial virus in having two distinct genotypes and a similar epidemiology.

HRV is a positive-sense, single strand RNA virus within an icosahedral (20-sided) capsid. Approximately 101 serotypes are currently identified.

HPIVs are a group of four different serotypes of single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the paramyxovirus family. They are the second most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in younger children.

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