Renal failure in a couple caused by Puumala hantavirus
Redal-Baigorri, Bén.; Thiesson, H.C.; Skarphedinsson, S.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 174(44): 2714-2715
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 23121909 Document Number: 660245
In Scandinavia Puumala hantavirus causes nephropathia epidemica (NE), characterised by an acute debut of fever, headache, increasing back and abdominal pain, thrombocytopenia, increasing azotemia parameters, as well as microscopic haematuria and mild proteinuria. In some cases transitory myopia can be found. The diagnosis is made with a relevant clinical history and serology, and in most cases a kidney biopsy is not necessary. There is a risk of missing cases of NE as in this case, where a couple became infected by Puumala Hantavirus in a high-risk area but became ill in an area with a low prevalence.