Reye's syndrome is a rare condition that has been linked to viral infections and aspirin. In particular, it is thought that children who have chicken pox or influenza and take aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines (Alka-Seltzer, Excedrin, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol, etc.) can develop Reye's syndrome, with symptoms that can affect their brain and liver.
Among the most serious symptoms are:
- persistent vomiting
- listlessness or decreased energy
- drowsiness
- irritability
- confusion
- combativeness
- seizures
- delirium
- loss of consciousness
There is no cure for Reye's syndrome, although some children do recover completely if they are treated early. Others may survive but have brain damage. That makes trying to prevent Reye's syndrome very important, which is why it is recommended that parents not give aspirin or aspirin-containing products to children and teens aged 18 or under. Since this recommendation became widespread in 1980, the number of Reye's syndrome cases in the United States has declined from a peak of 555 in 1980 to about 2 per year now.
