Reye’s syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal disease which affects infants, children and adolescents. This acute illness may occur during the period of recovery after a viral illness like influenza, chicken-pox, rubella, diarrhea Herpes simplex and echovirus. The main features of the illness include swelling of the brain and a form of live inflammation or hepatitis. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy and drowsiness, delirium, stupor, coma and irritable, aggressive behavior. Recent studies have shown that your child is at increased risk if he or she has been treated with preparations containing aspirin, salicylates and/or salicylamides during a viral illness, especially during the time when a fever is present. Most cases of Reye’s syndrome occur in the five to ten year age group. Children of both sexes are affected.
How Is Aspirin Implicated In Reye’s Syndrome?
Although the exact cause of Reye’s Syndrome is unknown, several studies suggest that the use of aspirin or aspirin containing products during a viral illness could cause the condition. Such studies do not indicate that aspirin itself causes the syndrome but that it is an aggravating factor when used during a feverish, viral illness.
Because of this link, since 1986 aspirin containing preparations have been labeled with warnings about Reye’s Syndrome. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency requires a warning on all products containing aspirin that children under the age of sixteen should avoid its use unless advised to do so by their doctor.
Other chemicals have also been implicated including insecticides and emulsifiers, but the evidence for these remains controversial.
