Reye’s syndrome (RS) is primarily a children’s disease, although it can occur at any age.

It affects all organs of the body but is most harmful to the brain and the liver, causing an acute increase of pressure within the brain and, often, massive accumulations of fat in the liver and other organs.

Reye’s syndrome is defined as a two-phase illness because it generally occurs in conjunction with a previous viral infection, such as the flu or chicken pox. The disorder commonly occurs during recovery from a viral infection, although it can also develop 3 to 5 days after the onset of the viral illness.

Reye’s syndrome is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, sudden infant death syndrome, or psychiatric illness.

Symptoms of Reye’s Syndrome

Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome (RS) include:

• Persistent or recurrent vomiting.
• Listlessness.
• Personality changes such as irritability or combativeness.
• Disorientation or confusion.
• Delirium – sudden severe confusion and rapid changes in brain function.
• Convulsions, and loss of consciousness.

If these symptoms are present during or soon after a viral illness, medical attention should be sought immediately. The symptoms of Reye’s Syndrome in infants do not follow a typical pattern, for example, vomiting does not always occur.

Causes of Reye’s Syndrome

The cause of Reye’s Syndrome (RS) remains a mystery. However, studies have shown that using aspirin or salicylate-containing medications to treat viral illnesses increases the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome. A doctor should be consulted before giving a child any aspirin or anti-nausea medicines during a viral illness, which can mask the symptoms of Reye’s syndrome.

Treatment of Reye’s Syndrome

There is no cure for Reye’s Syndrome (RS).

Successful management, which depends on early diagnosis, is primarily aimed at protecting the brain against irreversible damage by reducing brain swelling, reversing the metabolic injury, preventing complications in the lungs, and anticipating cardiac arrest.

It has been learned that several inborn errors of metabolism mimic Reye’s syndrome in that the first manifestation of these errors may be an encephalopathy with liver dysfunction. These disorders must be considered in all suspected cases of Reye’s syndrome. Some evidence suggests that treatment in the end-stages (end-stage is the complete, or almost complete phase of a terminal disease or condition) of Reye’s syndrome with hypertonic IV glucose solutions may prevent progression of the syndrome.

Prognosis of Reye’s Syndrome

Recovery from Reye’s Syndrome (RS) is directly related to the severity of the swelling of the brain. Some people recover completely, while others may sustain varying degrees of brain damage.

Those cases in which the disorder progresses rapidly and the patient lapses into a coma have a poorer prognosis than those with a less severe course.

Statistics indicate that when Reye’s syndrome is diagnosed and treated in its early stages, chances of recovery are excellent. When diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the chances for successful recovery and survival are severely reduced. Unless Reye’s syndrome is diagnosed and treated successfully, death is common, often within a few days.

Research Being Done on Reye’s Syndrome

Much of the research on Reye’s Syndrome (RS) focuses on answering fundamental questions about the disorder such as how problems in the body’s metabolism may trigger the nervous system damage characteristic of Reye’s syndrome and what role aspirin plays in this life-threatening disorder.

The ultimate goal of this research is to improve scientific understanding, diagnosis and medical treatment of Reye’s syndrome.

For More Information About Reye’s Syndrome

Organizations

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
5600 Fishers Lane, CDER-HFD-240
Rockville, MD 20857
www.fda.gov
Tel: 301-827-4573 888-INFO-FDA (463-6332)

National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation
P.O. Box 829
426 North Lewis
Bryan, OH 43506-0829
nrsf@reyessyndrome.org
www.reyessyndrome.org
Tel: 419-636-2679 800-233-7393 Fax: 419-636-9897

Source: www.ninds.nih.gov – February 2007