An acute and potentially fatal metabolic disorder characterized by cerebral edema, fatty liver and hypoglycemia. It occurs primarily in children and has been associated with the use of aspirin for the treatment of viral infections. However, it can also occur in the absence of aspirin use.
Symptoms of Reye's Syndrome
The following features are indicative of Reye's Syndrome:
diarrhea
rapid breathing
continuous vomiting
unusual sleepiness
irritable, aggressive behavior
seizures
excessive lethargy
decreased level of consciousness
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Common Causes of Reye's Syndrome
The following are the most common causes of Reye's Syndrome:
use of aspirin to treat viral illness
exposure to certain toxins such as insecticides, herbicides, paint thinner
Risk Factors for Reye's Syndrome
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Reye's Syndrome:
have fatty acid oxidation disorder
use of aspirin to treat viral infection
Prevention of Reye's Syndrome
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Reye's Syndrome. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
use caution when giving aspirin to a child to reduce the child's risk of catching a viral illness
do not take aspirin for several weeks after the child has received a varicella vaccine
caution should be exercised while giving aspirin to children or teenagers
Occurrence of Reye's Syndrome
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Reye's Syndrome cases seen each year worldwide:
Rare between 10K - 50K cases
Common Age Group
Reye's Syndrome can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Reye's Syndrome can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Reye's Syndrome
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Reye's Syndrome:
Spinal tap: To diagnose the disease
Liver biopsy: To diagnose the functioning of liver
Computerized Tomography (CT) scan: To get the images of brain
Skin biopsy: To examine the fatty acid oxidation disorders
Complications of Reye's Syndrome if untreated
Yes, Reye's Syndrome causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Reye's Syndrome is left untreated:
can be fatal
Patient Support for Treatment of Reye's Syndrome
The following actions may help Reye's Syndrome patients:
Join supporting organizations: Provides information about disease, helps in coping with the disease