Reye's Syndrome
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Reye's Syndrome
Early diagnosis is crucial. A doctor who suspects Reye's will look for elevated ammonia levels in the blood, and will perform liver function tests. Results usually take 2 to 3 hours to arrive. A liver biopsy may be performed, and may be especially helpful in young children under 2 years old. An MRI or CT scan of the head will likely be done for a child with altered mental status.
A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) test may be performed. This won't detect Reye's, but it's important to eliminate the possibility of meningitis or encephalitis, which are direct infections in or around the brain that can also be caused by viruses and that are far more common.
Treating and Preventing Reye's Syndrome
There's no cure for Reye's syndrome, since the exact cause of the illness is unknown. The first step is an intravenous glucose solution, as low blood sugar is a risk. It's also important to prevent brain damage by keeping the pressure in the brain from reaching dangerous levels. In mildly affected people, the disease will pass within a week.
Other common treatments include:
- insertion of a tube into the child's throat attached to a ventilator machine to assist the child's breathing
- vitamin K and blood products to help with bleeding due to the liver not working properly
- medications such as dexamethasone or mannitol to control the pressure in the brain due to swelling
After a bout with Reye's syndrome, brain damage may occur. While many people are unharmed by the condition, evidence of neurological damage is common.
It's worth remembering that lightning strikes kill more people than Reye's syndrome. Even if a child is given ASA to combat the flu, the child is at extremely low risk. Nevertheless, taking ASA is the only known risk factor. Taking ASA to fight respiratory viruses increases the risk up to 35 times.
While only ASA itself has been clearly linked to Reye's, the US National Reye's Syndrome Foundation recommends that (pending further research) the whole salicylate family of medications should be avoided during viral illness. Other common salicylate-containing products include Pepto-Bismol® and oil of wintergreen. If you're not sure whether a product or herbal tonic preparation contains salicylates, consult your doctor.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Reyes-Syndrome
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