| Reye's syndrome (RS) is primarily a children's disease. | | | | Reye's syndrome may be diarrhea and rapid |
| Reye's syndrome is a disorder principally affecting the | | | | breathing. |
| liver and brain, marked by rapid development of | | | | Reye's syndrome is a life-threatening emergency that |
| life-threatening neurological symptoms. Reye | | | | requires intensive management. Intensive monitoring |
| syndrome is sudden (acute) brain damage | | | | of the pressure within the brain, blood gases, and |
| (encephalopathy) and liver function problems of | | | | blood pH is required. Treatments may include fluids by |
| unknown cause. Reye's Syndrome tends to appear | | | | IV to provide electrolytes and glucose ,steroids to |
| with greatest frequency during January, February, | | | | reduce swelling in the brain and breathing support (a |
| and March when influenza is most common. Reye | | | | breathing machine may be needed during a deep |
| syndrome is rare: approximately 0.1 cases per | | | | coma). Corticosteroids medications may be used to |
| 100,000 population. Children with Reye syndrome get | | | | reduce swelling in the brain. Monitoring pressure inside |
| sick very suddenly. Typically, Reye syndrome follows | | | | the head to help prevent brain damage. Using a |
| an upper respiratory infection (URI) or chickenpox by | | | | respirator if the child is having severe difficulty |
| about 1 week. It frequently begins with vomiting, | | | | breathing. Aspirin should be avoided for several |
| which is persistent over many hours. | | | | weeks after receiving a varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. |
| The signs and symptoms of Reye syndrome are | | | | Small amounts of insulin may be used to increase |
| almost always preceded by a viral illness. After the | | | | sugar metabolism. Diuretics medications may be used |
| beginning of recovery from the viral illness, the | | | | to increase fluid loss through urination. |
| affected person suddenly becomes worse, with the | | | | Reye's Syndrome Treatment and Prevention Tips |
| development of persistent vomiting. This may be | | | | 1. Fluids by IV to provide electrolytes and glucose. |
| followed rapidly by quietness, lethargy, agitation or | | | | 2. Steroids to reduce swelling in the brain. |
| combativeness, seizures, and coma. In infants, | | | | 3. Use other drugs that help relieve fever, such as |
| diarrhea may be more common than vomiting. Fever | | | | acetaminophen. |
| is usually absent at this point. Weakness in arms or | | | | 4. Your child may be fed through an intravenous (IV) |
| legs ,muscle function loss or paralysis of the arms or | | | | line. |
| legs ,double vision ,speech difficulties and hearing loss. | | | | 5. Corticosteroids medications may be used to reduce |
| The signs and symptoms of Reye's syndrome | | | | swelling in the brain. |
| typically appear about one week after a viral | | | | 6. Aspirin should be avoided for several weeks after |
| infection. | | | | receiving a varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. |
| For children younger than age 2, the first signs of | | | | |