Nephropathia epidemica (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) in children: clinical characteristics.

The clinical characteristics of serologically verified nephropathia epidemica, the Scandinavian form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, were studied in Swedish children who were < 15 years of age. In 1990 to 1992, 14 cases were prospectively followed. A retrospective survey during 1984 to 1990 disclosed another 18 cases. Among the 32 cases (20 boys, 12 girls, 3 to 15 years of age; median age, 11 years), the most common symptoms were fever (100%), headache (100%), abdominal pain (93%), vomiting (91%) and back pain (76%). Laboratory findings included elevated serum creatinine concentration (19 of 28) and thrombocytopenia (7 of 22). Urinalysis showed proteinuria (31 of 31 patients) and hematuria (24 of 30). Six children had mild hemorrhagic manifestations (epistaxis, metrorrhagia, and petechiae). No severe complications occurred. The clinical symptoms of children with nephropathia epidemica seem to be similar to those found among adult nephropathia epidemica cases.