What
is Reye Syndrome?
Reye
Syndrome is a rare condition that may follow an upper respiratory
infection or a case of varicella (chickenpox). People with
Reye Syndrome have nausea, vomiting and a change in mental
status. To be diagnosed as Reye Syndrome, an illness must
meet the following criteria:
- Acute,
noninflammatory encephalopathy (disease of the brain)
that is documented clinically by a) an alteration in
consciousness and, if available, b) a record of the
cerebrospinal fluid containing less than or equal to
8 white blood cells/cubic millimeter or a histologic
specimen of the brain demonstrating cerebral edema (swelling)
without perivascular or meningeal inflammation
- Hepatopathy
(disease of the liver) documented by either a) a liver
biopsy or an autopsy considered to be diagnostic of
Reye Syndrome or b) a threefold or greater increase
in the levels serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase
(SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT),
or serum ammonia
- No
more reasonable explanation for the brain and liver
abnormalities
Who
gets Reye Syndrome?
Reye
Syndrome is most common among school-age children.
How
is Reye Syndrome diagnosed?
There
is no specific laboratory test to diagnose Reye Syndrome.
A case of Reye Syndrome is confirmed when a case
meets the clinical case definition.
How
can Reye Syndrome be prevented?
Children
who have an upper respiratory infection or varicella should
not be given aspirin or aspirin-containing products
without specific physician instructions to administer these
medicines.
Where
can I get more information?
- Your
personal doctor.
- Your
local health department listed in your telephone directory.
- The
Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology (801)
538-6191.
UTAH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
BUREAU OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
August 2001 |
