What is Reye's syndrome?
Reye's syndrome was first identified as a clear disease in 1963 by Australian pathologist R. Douglas Reye, M.D. This rare but potentially deadly disease is mainly affected by children between four and 16 years. Two -phase disease, Reye's syndrome occurs during a period of recovery after viral infection such as flu or chickenpox. In some cases, this may also occur three to five days after the patient is diagnosed with a viral disease.
When Reye's syndrome attacks the body, blood sugar decreases while ammonia and acidity rises in the body. This affects all organs, but is most deadly to the brain and liver. The beginning of Reye syndrome causes swelling due to increased brain pressure. In addition, the liver and other organs accumulate abnormal amounts of greasy bearings. Undiagnosed and untreated, this condition can cause sudden convulsions or seizures, leading to the death of a coma and brain within a few days.
symptoms. Symptoms Reye's Syndrome falls into two fIt is dependent on the severity of the disease. Phase I includes preliminary symptoms that usually affect the child's physical health. These symptoms include heartlessness, loss of energy, persistent vomiting, continuous diarrhea, drowsiness and nausea. If these symptoms are ignored or confused with the recurrence of earlier viral infections, the syndrome deteriorates.
Phase II symptoms have a serious impact on the child's mental health. At this level of Reye's syndrome, the child will show dramatic changes in personality by highly irritated and aggressive. It can also become disoriented, resulting in confusion and irrational and combat behavior. As the condition develops, cramps or seizures occur, finally ends in deep comic and inevitable death.
Due to the unification of phase I symptoms is Reye's syndrome more of the ophthen than not diagnosed as other diseases such as meningitis, drug abuse, encephalItida, diabetes, poisoning, psychiatric diseases and sudden infant death (SIDS). Parents or doctors should suspect Reye's syndrome if the child begins to recover from viral infection, but suddenly deteriorates. Early diagnosis is decisive for minimizing physical damage and preventing death.
causes. There are no known causes of Reye's syndrome. However, scientists have found that aspirin or salicylate -containing drugs can increase the likelihood of its incidence. One study found that 90% of patients with this disease took aspirin before or during a viral disease. For this reason, parents are advised to consult doctors before the treatment of their children with these drugs.
treatment. Because there is no medicine for Reye's syndrome, instead doctors focus on preventing serious brain damage by anticipating cardiac and brain swelling. Children can also be admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit for treatmentDrugs such as insulin to increase the metabolism of sugar, diuretics to help lose excess fluid by urination, and thus reduce brain swelling and corticosteroids to reduce brain inflammation. In addition, doctors can use various intravenous fluids such as glucose to expand blood sugar; sodium, potassium and chloride for correction of blood chemistry values; And another basic solution for acidity control. If a child has an advanced phase of Reye syndrome, doctors can use a fan to help him breathe normally.
Reye's syndrome can be managed if it is caught early. Delayed diagnosis seriously reduces the chance of successful recovery, leading to death within a few days.