Most people realize that giving aspirin to children could be dangerous, but many are unfamiliar with the reasoning behind it. That reason is known as Reye's syndrome, a rare but deadly illness that can affect the liver and brain. A relationship was found between Reye's syndrome and children who had consumed aspirin after a recent viral illness. Hence parents are discouraged to give children aspirin or aspirin-containing products. According to recent reports this worldwide effort has dramatically reduced the number of cases of Reye' syndrome.

What Exactly Is Reye's Syndrome?

The exact cause of Reye's syndrome and its relationship with liver degeneration is still not certain. It's found exclusively in children younger than 16 years of age and is generally seen during winter months. If left untreated, a child can develop brain damage, liver failure and possible death. It was discovered in the 1980's that the common link between Reye's syndrome patients, was the ingestion of aspirin. This led in 1986, to mandatory warning labels on aspirin-containing products, and to avoid giving this medication for colds, chicken pox and flu syndromes.

What Are The Symptoms Of Reye's Syndrome?

Unfortunately the symptoms of Reye's syndrome are similar to viral illnesses and are often missed. The common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness and irritability. Reye's syndrome should be considered if the symptoms recur after the normal course of a viral illness, i.e. if symptoms persist two weeks or more. In Reye's syndrome, lipid accumulation occurs in the liver and other organs and the net effect is causing increased pressure on the brain. A doctor, who suspects Reye's syndrome, will obtain liver function tests to see if the liver enzymes are abnormal. If Reye's syndrome is untreated, it can lead to seizures, coma and possible death in a few days. Once diagnosis is confirmed, attempts are made to prevent or reduce edema in the brain, using steroid medications and diuretics. Breathing and other vital signs are monitored in intensive care unit. Due to its rarity, Reye's syndrome is often misdiagnosed and has been confused with diseases such as meningitis and sudden infant death syndrome. Survivors of Reye's syndrome often have severe mental abnormalities and learning disabilities.

Now I'm nervous. How can I prevent my child from getting Reye's Syndrome?

One of the greatest public health successes in the 1980's was the near elimination of Reye's syndrome. In 1980, there were about 500 cases of Reye's syndrome, with over a hundred deaths occurring in children. Last year, there were only 14 cases. This dramatic decrease in cases is a result of public health efforts in educating parents on the adverse effects of giving aspirin to children. The best alternative drug is acetaminophen or ibuprofen, at the proper dosages for a child with pain or fever. Pay attention to the labels for aspirin or salicylate-containing products such as Pepto-Bismol and anti-nausea medications. You might be surprised where aspirin can be found.

One group that we often forget to warn about aspirin is teenagers. Often they take an aspirin for a headache or quick pain relief, without knowing the dangers. Anyone younger than twenty is still at risk for Reye's syndrome.

Through an even greater education effort, we can eliminate the dangers of Reye's syndrome completely. For more information on Reye's syndrome, contact the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation (426 North Lewis Street, Bryan, OH 43506) at 1-800-233-7393.