Reye’s syndrome is a very rare condition that causes serious liver and brain damage. If it is not treated promptly it may result in permanent brain injury or death.
Almost all recorded cases of Reye’s syndrome have happened in children, but adult cases have also occurred.
The exact cause of Reye’s syndrome is unknown, but there is evidence that two factors may contribute towards children developing the condition. These are listed below.
- Previous viral infection – most children who developed Reye’s syndrome were recovering from a viral infection, usually either influenza (flu) or chickenpox
- Aspirin – many children who developed Reye’s syndrome had previously taken aspirin to treat the symptoms of their viral illness
Due to the possible link between Reye’s syndrome and aspirin, the medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), recommends that children under 16 years old should not take aspirin unless advised by a doctor.
How common is Reye’s syndrome?
Since health warnings were issued in the late 1980s about not giving aspirin to children, the number of cases of Reye’s syndrome has fallen dramatically.
There was an average of 41 cases of Reye’s syndrome a year in the UK and Ireland during the 1980s. The average number of cases a year fell to nine during the 1990s. In 2002, there was one confirmed case of Reye's syndrome. Up to April 2009 there have been three suspected cases.
Despite the decrease, some healthcare professionals believe that a large flu pandemic (a global outbreak of a new strain of the flu virus) may lead to an upsurge in cases of Reye’s syndrome, particularly if parents ignore the warning about aspirin.
Reye’s syndrome affects boys and girls equally, and it affects all races.
Outlook
Reye’s syndrome should be treated as a medical emergency because it can cause rapid damage to the liver and brain. A child with Reye’s syndrome will need to be taken immediately to an intensive care unit so that their body’s functions can be supported while they are receiving treatment. See Reye’s syndrome - treatment for more information.
As a result of advances in diagnosing and treating Reye’s syndrome, it is now estimated that 8 out of 10 people who develop the condition will survive. However, children can sometimes develop a degree of brain damage after recovering from Reye’s syndrome. See Reye’s syndrome - complications for more information.
