Reye Syndrome

Synonyms

Reye’s syndrome

Definition and Characteristics

Reye syndrome (RS) is a severe pediatric disorder characterized by an acute noninflammatory encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of the liver but it is not a clinical entity [1,2]. RS was first described in 1963 by Reye and colleagues. The illness is typically biphasic, with an apparent near-recovery from a viral type prodromal illness followed after a few days by persistent or recurrent vomiting, personality changes such as irritability, disorientation or confusion, delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. The condition is associated with viral infections (varicella, influenza), with the exposure to toxins and drugs such as aspirin during a viral illness [3,4], and most importantly with underlying inherited metabolic disorders [5].

Prevalence

Peak ages are between 5 and 14 years. The syndrome is rare in early infancy and adulthood. On the basis of the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), data from the USA,...