Reye Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment And Prevention
On rare occasions, children who are recovering from an infectious disease as common as the flu, develop a condition that causes severe changes in their personality and ends up being lethal. They are the victims of the so-called Reye Syndrome.
Below we explain the key aspects of this strange neurological disease that seems to be closely related to the use of aspirin in children.
When Ralph Douglas Reye, Graeme Morgan and Jim Baral published an article in the prestigious medical journal in 1963 The Lancet Describing a condition characterized by encephalopathy and liver involvement, they laid the foundations of knowledge about a disease as rare as it is heterogeneous.
Reye Syndrome, named after the Australian pathologist who first identified the disease, became diagnosable in 1973, reaching its peak incidence between the years 1979-1980.
Clinical description
It is a disease of unknown cause that especially affects children between 5 and 15 years old but it can manifest up to the age of 21 and, very exceptionally, in adulthood.
Normally, it originates between three and five days after the child suffers a viral infection. Particularly those that affect the upper respiratory tract, flu, chickenpox or gastroenteritis, and are related to the use of aspirin during the course of the infection.
Because there are no specific conclusive tests, the doctor will reach the diagnosis clinically, that is, through the clinical history of the symptoms and with the support of results that show liver involvement. Because of the lethality of Reye Syndrome, it is vitally important to know the initial symptoms that characterize the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment can save a child’s life.
In Reye’s syndrome, Blood sugar levels plummet, while blood ammonia and acidity levels skyrocket. In parallel, the liver can develop fat deposits. The brain frequently suffers from edema, causing seizures or loss of consciousness.
The type of symptoms the patient suffers indicates how advanced the disease is. Depending on the severity of these, the course can be divided into four stages:
1. Stage I Symptoms
2. Stage II Symptoms
3. Stage III Symptoms
4. Stage IV Symptoms
Unfortunately, the course of Reye Syndrome is not always the same, and some symptoms may not occur or others may appear in their place, making its diagnosis difficult. For example, in babies diarrhea and rapid breathing may appear instead of vomiting, so it does not follow a typical pattern.
Although the presence of vomiting in the absence of infection should already raise some alarm bells, Loss of consciousness or seizures is a medical emergency that must be treated immediately.
How do we act in case of suspicion?
In most cases, Reye Syndrome will be treated urgently by healthcare personnel due to neurological symptoms. However, there is a small part that consults a neurologist before the course worsens.
Preparing for the visit
When the family visits the neurologist, due to the limited time usually dedicated to each consultation, It will be very useful that you have followed these tips to get the most out of the appointment.
It is best to write the questions from most important to least important, in case you do not have time to cover them all. Some basic questions that should be asked of the neurologist handling the case are :
What other possible causes could there be for these symptoms?
What tests are necessary for diagnosis?
What treatments are available and what pros and cons does each have?
Once the syndrome is diagnosed, the child will be immediately admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. There the treatment aims to minimize symptoms and maintain vital functions, such as breathing or circulation. It will also be essential to protect the brain against permanent damage that edema can cause.
Drugs will be administered directly into the vein, including: electrolytes and fluids, diuretics, ammonia-lowering drugs, and anticonvulsants.
Assisted breathing may need to be used if the patient with Reye’s Syndrome needs help breathing. Vital signs will be monitored, including heart rate, pulse, blood pressure air circulation and temperature until brain edema decreases and body functions return to normal.
However, it may take weeks for the patient to be discharged and leave the hospital.
Prevention
Due to the possible link between aspirin use and Reye’s Syndrome, aspirin should only be administered under the advice of a doctor when the benefits outweigh the risks. Children under 16 years of age should also not take products that contain acetylsalicylic acid or salicylic salts, such as some mouthwashes or toothpastes, as long as safer alternatives exist.
In any case, It is important to be alert to the symptoms that children suffer after an infection in order to reach an early diagnosis and avoid damage that could otherwise be permanent.
