Reye syndrome is a rare condition that can affect children and young adults after a viral illness, such as the flu, chicken pox or diarrhea. It changes the normal chemical balance in the body, primarily affecting the brain and liver. If left untreated, it can lead to serious brain damage and even death. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a good outcome.
Reye’s syndrome is linked to the use of aspirin during viral illnesses, such as chickenpox and the flu. Thankfully, it is now a rare occurrence, thanks to a better understanding of the risks of giving aspirin to children. Widespread chickenpox vaccinations have also helped reduce the number of children at risk of contracting it.
What is Reye syndrome?
Reye syndrome (pronounced ‘rye’, as in bread) is a severe illness that causes swelling in the brain and liver of an affected child. Although it affects all the organs, it is most harmful to the brain and liver. The condition causes increased pressure in the brain and a build-up of fatty tissue in the liver.
It is a rare condition that usually appears shortly after a viral illness, such as chicken pox or the flu. It is often seen as a ‘children’s disease’. Children aged between 5 and 14 years are most at risk of developing Reye syndrome; it is extremely rare in children younger than 18 months and people aged over 18.
When does Reye syndrome start?
Reye syndrome symptoms usually start between three days and three weeks after a child recovers from the initial viral infection (such as chicken pox or the flu). In the US, this condition is most commonly seen during late fall and winter.
Reye syndrome has a rapid onset, so you must seek medical help right away if you think your child is showing symptoms.
Symptoms of Reye syndrome
Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome are:
- Sickness
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Rapid breathing and/or heart rate
- Decerebrate posture (an unusual position, with arms and legs held straight with toes pointed downwards and arms turned towards the body)
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness.
In babies, you might notice a full or bulging fontanelle (the soft spot at the top of the head). Another symptom commonly seen in babies and young children is a high-pitched cry.
Other possible symptoms are: hearing loss; double vision; speech difficulties; and weakness or paralysis in the arms and legs.
Reye’s syndrome is a medical emergency. If you think your child might have it, you must seek medical help immediately.
What causes Reye syndrome?
The exact causes of Reye disease remain unknown. Sometimes, children with rare genetic conditions, such as a rare metabolic disorder, get Reye’s syndrome without the use of aspirin. Other than that, it is usually linked to the use of salicylates, such as aspirin, in children.
During the 1980s, the number of cases of Reye syndrome was high. A 1988 study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood found that only 0.1% of children given aspirin for a viral infection developed Reye syndrome. Although this makes it sound as though the syndrome is a rare occurrence, it’s important to note that, of the children in the study, 80% of those with Reye syndrome had taken aspirin in the previous three weeks. Once this link had been established, medical advice changed, and parents were advised not to give their children aspirin.
Preventing Reye syndrome
Thankfully, cases of Reye’s syndrome are now rare, thanks to growing awareness of the dangers of giving aspirin to children. Vaccination against chicken pox has also greatly reduced the number of cases of Reye syndrome each year.
There are some steps you can take to protect your child from Reye’s syndrome:
- Vaccinate your child against chicken pox and other viruses. This might reduce the child’s risk of developing Reye syndrome. For children who need to take aspirin for medical reasons, vaccination against chicken pox and the flu can help protect them from Reye’s syndrome
- Don’t give aspirin to your child unless medically advised by your child’s doctor
- Don’t give your child any medicines containing salicylic acid or salicylates. Check with your pharmacist before administering over-the-counter medications.
When to seek help for Reye syndrome
Although rare, Reye’s syndrome can have severe consequences if left untreated. It’s crucial to seek urgent medical help for your children if they are showing symptoms of Reye’s disease. The chance of a full recovery is greatest when treatment begins during the early stages.
Reye’s disease develops in the days or weeks following a viral infection. If your child is drowsy, lethargic, vomiting, exhibiting aggressive behavior, or acting more irritable than usual, you should seek urgent medical help.
Take your child straight to the Emergency Room if your child:
- Has a seizure
- Loses consciousness
- Is struggling to breathe
- Is confused
- Is limp, floppy, or not responding in the usual way.
How is Reye syndrome diagnosed?
If doctors suspect a child might have Reye’s syndrome, they will run some diagnostic tests, which might include:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- An electroencephalogram
- A CT scan
- A lumbar puncture
- A liver biopsy.
Reye syndrome treatment
There is no cure for for the condition, but doctors will work fast to treat the early symptoms of the condition in the hope of preventing lasting brain damage. Children with the condition are usually treated in the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital.
If your child is diagnosed with the condition, your child’s health care provider will want to begin treatment right away.
Treatment for Reye syndrome includes:
- A breathing machine, to aid breathing
- IV fluids, to prevent dehydration
- Diuretics, to help the body expel excess fluid and salts
- Steroids, to reduce the swelling in the brain.
- Medication, to manage the symptoms and treat the condition.
Prognosis after Reye syndrome
Reye syndrome is an extremely serious condition. Unfortunately, some children die from the condition; others, however, make a full recovery. The prognosis is dependent on how early treatment starts, the severity of the swelling in the brain, and whether the child goes into a coma. Unfortunately, children who enter a comatose state have lower rates of survival.
What to do if you think your child has Reye syndrome
The symptoms are similar to those of other childhood illnesses. If you believe your child might have Reye syndrome, you should seek medical help without delay. The illness is a very serious condition, and early detection is crucial.
