Conclusions
In times of coronavirus pandemic, we must be careful in the use of aspirin as prior clustering of cases occurred during epidemics of influenza. One case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome complicated by Reye syndrome has been reported. Care must be taken to utilize aspirin only when absolutely needed. Fear of Reye syndrome should not stop us from using aspirin in conditions such as KD or ARF where its benefits significantly outweigh the risks. The new British guidelines on the management of KD do not mention Reye syndrome as a potential adverse event anywhere in the guidelines as they recognize that the beneficial effect of aspirin outweighs the risk in these conditions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Reye RDK, Morgan G, Baral J. Encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of the viscera a disease entity in child-hood. Lancet. 1963;282:749–52.
Chandrasekaran R, Kumar V, Bannerjee C, Walia BN, Bhagwat AG. Reye’s syndrome: clinical course and follow-up of survivors. Indian Pediatr. 1973;10:377–81.
Crocker J. Reye’s Syndrome. Semin LiverDis. 1982;2:340–52.
Belay ED, Bresee JS, Holman RC, Khan AS, Shahriari A, Schonberger LB. Reye’s Syndrome in the United States from 1981 through 1997. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:1377–82.
Benakappa DG, Das S, Shankar SK, et al. Reye’s syndrome in Bangalore. Indian J Pediatr. 1991;58:805–10.
Schrör K. Aspirin and Reye syndrome: a review of the evidence. Pediatr Drugs. 2007;9:195–204.
Hurwitz ES, Barrett MJ, Bregman D, et al. Public Health Service study of Reye’s syndrome and medications. Report of the main study. JAMA. 1987;257:1905–11.
Forsyth BW, Horwitz RI, Acampora D, et al. New epidemiologic evidence confirming that bias does not explain the aspirin/Reye’s syndrome association. JAMA. 1989;261: 2517–24.
Partin Jacqueline S, Schubert William K, PartinJohn C, Hammond Jeanne G. Serum salicylate concentrations in Reye’s disease. Lancet. 1982;319:191–4.
Johnson CC, Ownby DR. Have the efforts to prevent aspirin-related Reye’s syndrome fuelled an increase in asthma?: Paracetamol and asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2011; 41:296–8.
Funding
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Competing interests
None stated.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poddar, U., Vadlapudi, S.S. Reye Syndrome- An Enigma That Remains. Indian Pediatr 60, 486–487 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-2914-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-2914-1