Reye's Syndrome: A Real Present Danger
Warning: According toThe American Association of Pediatricians, since the medical community issued a public warning against the use of aspirin during viral illnesses, the number of cases of Reye syndrome has decreased greatly. Therefore,we strongly recommend that you do not give aspirin or any medications containing aspirin to your child or teenager when he has any viral illness, particularly chickenpox or influenza. If he needs medication for mild fever or discomfort, give him acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is approved for use in children six months of age or older; however, it should never be given to children who are dehydrated or who are vomiting continuously. Source: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/pages/Reye-Syndrome.aspx accessed 10/30/13 |
| The following information is taken from http://www.reyessyndrome.org/what.html accessed 10/30/13. Please see website for further information. |
What is Reye's Syndrome? Reye's Syndrome, a deadly disease, strikes swiftly and can attack any child, teen, or adult without warning. All body organs are affected with the liver and brain suffering most seriously. While the cause and cure remain unknown, research has established a link between Reye's Syndrome and the use of aspirin and other salicylate containing medications, over the counter products, and topical use products. |
| Reye's Syndrome is a two-phase illness because it is almost always associated with a previous viral infection such as influenza (flu), cold, or chicken pox. Scientists do know that Reye's Syndrome is not contagious and the cause is unknown. Reye's Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or psychiatric illness. |
| Reye's Syndrome tends to appear with greatest frequency during January, February, and March when influenza is most common. Cases are reported in every month of the year. An epidemic of flu or chicken pox is commonly followed by an increase in the number of cases of Reye's Syndrome. |
| When Reye's Syndrome develops, it typically occurs when a person is beginning to recover from a viral illness. |
| Abnormal accumulations of fat begin to develop in the liver and other organs of the body, along with a severe increase of pressure in the brain. Unless diagnosed and treated successfully, death is common, often within a few days, and even a few hours. A person's life depends upon early diagnosis. Statistics indicate an excellent chance of recovery when Reye's Syndrome is diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages. The later the diagnosis and treatment, the more severely reduced are the chances for successful recovery and survival. |
What has aspirin in it? The following is a list of common over-the-counter medications that contain aspirin. You should talk with the pharmacist before giving your child any of these medications to see if it contains aspirin products. For a more complete list of medications go to http://www.reyessyndrome.org/aspirinlists.html.
|
ADA Compliance Errors0