Symptoms usually appear as the child should be recovering from the infection. If the following symptoms are observed. Reye's Syndrome is rare, but when it occurs it is considered life threatening. Reye's Syndrome affects the liver and the brain. It is noncontagious and is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, poisoning, mental illness or even drug abu se.
Complete recovery can depend on early diagnosis.
Phone your physician immediately if any of the symptoms develop and tell him that you suspect Reye's Syndrome. There seems to be a link between children taking aspirin and their developing Reye's Syndrome. It is suggested that aspirin or medications containing aspirin or salicylates, which are often used to reduce fever, headache and other symptoms of viral illnes ses, not be given to children under 16 years of age who have influenza or chickenpox. Your doctor, however, should be consulted to discuss medication. This information has been culled from a variety of consumer health resources.