How To Treat And Prevent Reye's Syndrome

Reye’s syndrome is a rare and serious medical condition that can cause swelling in the brain and liver. It most commonly affects children and teenagers who have contracted a viral infection like chickenpox or the flu. Patients typically start showing symptoms of Reye’s syndrome three to five days after the onset of the initial illness. The early symptoms of Reye’s syndrome vary depending on the patient’s age. If the patient is under two years old, the first symptoms will be diarrhea and rapid breathing. Early symptoms in older patients include extreme lethargy and frequent vomiting.

As Reye’s syndrome progresses, the patient will develop other symptoms, including irrational behavior, irritability, paralysis or weakness in the limbs, seizures, hallucinations, confusion, extreme lethargy, and lessened consciousness. While there is currently no cure for Reye’s syndrome, there are treatments that can control the symptoms. There are also ways to prevent Reye’s syndrome or at least reduce the chances of developing it.

Cooling Blankets

Reye’s syndrome is usually treated in a hospital, and severe cases are sent to the intensive care unit. There, the medical staff will use a variety of treatments to help the patient. For example, they will use cooling blankets to bring the patient’s body temperature down to a safe level.

As the name suggests, a cooling blanket is one designed to keep the patient cool. Many such blankets are made of cotton, and others are made of bamboo or duck down. Bamboo has the added advantage of being hypoallergenic. Cooling blankets are often hollow to increase the amount of air flowing through them, and some blankets are also hygroscopic or able to absorb moisture.

Medication To Prevent Bleeding

Reye’s syndrome can cause liver abnormalities that result in bleeding. Doctors will, therefore, administer medication to prevent bleeding in the liver. The medications will contain any combination of platelets, plasma, and Vitamin K. Platelets are tiny cells in the blood that help clots form. Plasma is another component of the blood; its main job is to carry nutrients and blood cells to different parts of the body. Similarly, it helps transport waste. Vitamin K also helps the blood clot; medications containing vitamin K include menaquinone (vitamin K2) and phytonadione (vitamin K1). Doctors generally prefer using the latter because it is stronger and works faster. It is also less toxic than vitamin K2.

Diuretics

The doctors will also administer diuretics that stop swelling by helping the body get rid of water and salt. They will generally give the diuretics through intravenous injection. Doctors use mannitol to stimulate the production of urine and to reduce swelling within the brain and around the eyes. Mannitol can be taken orally or through an intravenous line. If the doctor is using it to reduce swelling of the brain, they will usually use an intravenous line. The exact dosage depends on the patient’s weight. The initial dose will typically be 0.25 to 1 gram per kilogram, and later doses will often be 0.25 to .5 grams per kilogram. The patient will be given doses of this medication once every four to six hours.

Intravenous Fluids

Doctors will give intravenous fluids to a patient with Reye’s syndrome. They will typically administer a solution containing glucose and electrolytes to correct and stabilize the levels of nutrients and salts in the patient’s blood. Doctors will also administer anticonvulsants and ammonia detoxicants intravenously. The first are medications used to control and prevent seizures, while the second are medications used to reduce the level of ammonia in the patient’s body.

Glycerol can also be administered intravenously. Doctors use it on Reye’s syndrome patients to reduce swelling of the brain. Dexamethasone is a kind of corticosteroid that reduces swelling and inflammation. The dosage of dexamethasone depends on the patient’s weight and the severity of their condition. Doctors will not use high doses of dexamethasone for more than two or three days.

Watch Acetylsalicylic Acid In Children

Acetylsalicylic acid has been linked to Reye’s syndrome. Thus, one way to prevent this condition is to watch acetylsalicylic acid in children. Parents should never give acetylsalicylic acid to children under three years old, and they should avoid giving it to older children recovering from viral infections as well. They should always check the label of any over-the-counter medication, as acetylsalicylic acid can be an ingredient in many products. Parents should use ibuprofen or acetaminophen as safer alternatives to acetylsalicylic acid.

Some children have conditions like Kawasaki disease that require them to take acetylsalicylic acid as part of their treatment. In cases like these, parents should have their children vaccinated against chickenpox and influenza to reduce their chances of developing Reye’s syndrome. Fatty acid oxidation disorders can also increase the risk of a child developing Reye’s syndrome, and children with known fatty acid oxidation disorders should never take acetylsalicylic acid. Some hospitals and clinics will screen newborns for such disorders.