NINDS Reye's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS
Article title: NINDS Reye's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS
Main condition: Reye's syndrome
Conditions: Reye's syndrome
What is Reye's Syndrome?
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. RS 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. RS is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, sudden infant death syndrome, or psychiatric illness. Symptoms of RS include persistent or recurrent vomiting, listlessness, personality changes such as irritability or combativeness, disorientation or confusion, delirium, 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 RS in infants do not follow a typical pattern; for example, vomiting does not always occur. The cause of RS remains a mystery. However studies have shown that using aspirin or salicylate-containing medications to treat viral illnesses increases the risk of developing RS. A physician should be consulted before giving a child any aspirin or anti-nausea medicines during a viral illness, which can mask the symptoms of RS.
Is there any
treatment?
There is no cure for 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 RS 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 RS.
Some evidence suggests that
treatment in the end stages of RS with hypertonic IV glucose solutions may
prevent progression of the syndrome.
What is the
prognosis?
Recovery from 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 RS 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
RS is diagnosed and treated successfully, death is common, often within a
few days.
What research is being
done?
Much of the research on 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 RS 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 RS.
Selected references
Kilpatrick-Smith, L, Hale, D, and Douglas, S.
Progress in
Reye Syndrome: Epidemiology, Biochemical Mechanisms and Animal Models.
Digestive Diseases, 7:3; 135-146 (1989).
Pinsky, P, Hurwitz, E, and Schonberger, L.
Reye's Syndrome in
Children: Low-Dose Aspirin Implicated. Modern Medicine, 57; 115 (February
1989).
Various.
Public Health Service Study of Reye's Syndrome and
Medications. ournal of the American Medical Association, 257:14;
1905-1911a (April 10, 1987).
Trauner, D.
What is the Best Treatment for Reye's Syndrome?
Archives of Neurology, 43:7; 729-731 (July 1986).
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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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
http://www.reyessyndrome.org/
Tel:
419-636-2679 800-233-7393
Fax: 419-636-3366
This fact sheet is in the public domain. You may copy it.Provided
by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD
20892
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