Reye Syndrome (cont.)
What causes Reye syndrome?
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 for Reye syndrome?
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 (outlook) with Reye's syndrome?
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.
SOURCE: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National
Institutes of Health
Next: How can Reye syndrome be avoided? »
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