Epidemic nephropathy is a viral disease that is spread by infected forest sores. You may become ill if you touch the animals, their saliva, urine or feces, or inhale dust containing urine or feces. The disease does not infect humans. You can get pretty bad from cured fever, but most will be completely healthy again.
There is fever mostly just north of the Dalälven River, in Dalsland and in Värmland. In the years when there are more sores than usual, more people get sick. Usually, between 100 and 500 cases are reported per year.
Epidemic nephropathy is very common in Finland.
Symptoms of epidemic nephropathy
It usually takes one to three weeks from the time of infection until you get sick but up to six weeks can occur.
If you become ill, it is common to:
- You get a high fever.
- You get muscle aches and headaches.
- You get a lot of stomach and back pain.
The disease also usually affects the kidneys. This can be noticed by kissing less at the beginning of the course of the disease.
When and where should I seek care?
If you suspect that you have had a fever, you can contact a health care center.
You can seek care at any healthcare center you want throughout the country.
What can I do for myself?
Here’s how you can reduce the risk of getting sick:
- Avoid direct contact with woods or their feces.
- Wear gloves if you need to clean or touch places where the animals may have been, for example in woodsheds or other outbuildings.
- Clean with wet instead of dry methods, so it does not dust.
- Rake last year’s grass after rain or watering, also to avoid dust.
- Preferably use an FFP3 face mask (can be purchased in a department store) when you need to be exposed to infection risk.
Treatment of epidemic nephropathy
There is no treatment for diabetic fever, but most people get healthy after one to two weeks. In the meantime, you can try to relieve the hassles of, for example, painkillers and antidepressants.
Sometimes the disease can prevent the kidneys from clearing their blood for a while. Then you may need to lie in hospital and receive treatment for it. In rare cases, intensive care may be needed.
Influence and participate in your care
You can seek care at any medical center or open specialist clinic you want throughout the country. Sometimes a referral to the open specialized care is required.
You should understand the information
In order for you to be involved in your care and treatment, it is important that you understand the information you receive from the healthcare staff. Ask questions if you don’t understand. For example, you should receive information about treatment options and how long you may have to wait for care and treatment.
Children should also be involved in their care. The older the child, the more important it is.
If you need tools, you should get information about what is available and how to get it.
Your consent is important
Once you have received information about what options and options for the care you have, you can give your consent or in some other way express a yes. This also applies to you who are not of legal age.
You may choose not to give your consent to the care you are offered. You may also withdraw your consent at any time.
You can get a new medical assessment
You may get a new medical assessment from another doctor if you have a life-threatening or particularly serious illness. Obtaining another doctor’s assessment can help you, for example, if you are unsure of which treatment is best for you.
You can get regular health care contact
If you have contact with many different people within the care, you can have permanent care contact. It is a person who among other things helps to coordinate your care.
Children should be able to participate
There is no age limit for when a child can have an influence over their care. The child’s ability to participate in related to the child’s maturity.
The older the child, the more important it is for them to be involved in their care. In order to be active in the care and to make decisions, it is important that you as an adult and the child understand the information you receive from the care staff.