Continuous vomiting (lasting for many hours) Irritable behavior Unusual sleepiness or lethargy Moderate-to-severe diarrhea and rapid breathing (for little kids, or those younger than two years old)[3] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Dropping blood sugar levels with higher levels of blood acidity. Swelling of the liver and brain
Tiredness Aggressive/irrational behavior Confusion/disorientation Weakness or paralysis in the limbs Seizures, loss of consciousness and coma[4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you see this pattern of signs or symptoms in your child or yourself, you need to get to a hospital or clinic for emergency treatment quickly. Changes in mental status can include aggressiveness, agitation, amnesia, hallucinations (seeing and hearing things) and progressively reduced consciousness until the person lapses into a coma.
Since parents have been educated about the potential dangers of aspirin use for children, the incidence of Reye’s syndrome has dropped off significantly. More specifically, there are only a few documented cases of Reye’s syndrome in the United States per year now, although back in 1980, there were about 500 cases. [6] X Research source People with fatty acid oxidation disorders (unable to break down fats because an enzyme is missing or malfunctioning) and other metabolic disorders appear to be at higher risk for Reye’s syndrome. [7] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Exposure to insecticides, herbicides and paint thinners may also increase the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome.
Brain damage can cause intellectual/developmental disability, behavioral problems, deafness, arm / leg paralysis and/or a long-term coma. Since the 1980s, the risk of death from Reye’s syndrome has decreased from 50% to less than 20% as a result of early diagnosis and aggressive therapy. [9] X Research source
A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) can help diagnose inflammation in the brain and rule out other causes, such as meningitis or encephalitis. During a spinal tap, a little bit of cerebrospinal fluid is removed and analyzed. A liver biopsy involves inserting a long needle into the liver and taking a small tissue sample to see if there is inflammation and/or fat accumulation — common with Reye’s syndrome. A computerized tomography (CT) scan or MRI can also identify abnormal changes in the brain and liver.
Patients with Reye’s syndrome are usually admitted to an intensive-care unit (ICU) within a hospital and monitored for escalating neurological and metabolic problems. Once in the hospital, it’s difficult to predict which patients get entirely better and which suffer brain damage. However, those patients who develop seizures due to brain swelling have the highest risk of brain damage (about a 30% chance). [14] X Research source
Medications are also needed to prevent internal bleeding due to liver dysfunction and abnormalities. As such, vitamin K and extra plasma and platelets are usually given to patients with advanced Reye’s syndrome. [16] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Medications may also used to prevent or treat seizures. Other concerns for people with Reye’s include reversing any metabolic issues, preventing lung, kidney, or gastrointestinal complications and anticipating and preventing cardiac arrest (heart stoppage).
