2. What is it?
• Reye syndrome is an extremely rare but serious illness
that can affect the brain and liver. It occurs most
commonly in kids recovering from a viral infection.
• Who?
• Reye syndrome predominantly affects kids between 4 and
14 years old, and occurs most frequently when viral
diseases are epidemic, such as during the winter months or
following an outbreak of chickenpox or influenza B.
3. Diagnostics
• Reye syndrome is diagnosed based on a medical history, a
physical exam, and lab tests.
The only way to be considered for these tests are if:
• The child has recently had a viral flu and took aspirin
• A change in mental state (confusion) or liver problems
arise.
The Diagnostic tests are the following:
• Blood work and urinalysis
• CT Scan
• Spinal Tap
• Liver biopsy
4. Prevalence
• Peak incidence age 6 years
• Most children range from 4–12 years of age.
• Peak incidence of 555 cases in children in the US in 1980
• From 1994–1997, there were no more than 2 cases of
Reye syndrome annually.
• Overall mortality of 31%
• Reye syndrome rarely occurs in newborns or in children
older than 18 years.
5. Treatment
• Treatment is designed to stop brain and liver damage and
prevent complications.
• Hospitalization is the only treatment. It may include:
*Blood stream flushed out with IV fluids for a few days
*Vital signs monitored closely (blood pressure, temp. and pulse)
*A catheter placed in the bladder; liver being monitored
*Many blood samples taken
*Child will be given medicine to reduce brain swelling
6. Accommodations and
Modifications
• Important to monitor students.
• DO NOT administer any kind of drugs.
• Accommodate for missed days due to hospital
visits.
• Extra time to practice, I.e. Private Lessons.
• Print out awareness and detection fact sheets.
