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. Epidemiologic evidence
indicates that aspirin (salicylate) is the major preventable risk factor for
Reye's syndrome. The mechanism by which aspirin and other salicylates trigger
Reye's syndrome is not completely understood. A "Reye's-like" illness may occur
in children with genetic metabolic disorders and other toxic disorders. 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.
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: National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 9/25/2009...#6088
