What is Reyes Syndrome?
Reyes syndrome (RS) is primarily a children’s disease, although it can occur at any age. It affects all organs of the body but is most harmful to the brain and the liver–causing an acute increase of pressure within the brain and, often, massive accumulations of fat in the liver and other organs. Reyes Syndrome is defined as a two-phase illness because it generally occurs in conjunction with a previous viral infection, such as the flu or chicken pox. The disorder commonly occurs during recovery from a viral infection, although it can also develop 3 to 5 days after the onset of the viral illness. Reyes Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, sudden infant death syndrome, or psychiatric illness. Symptoms of Reyes Syndrome include persistent or recurrent vomiting, listlessness, personality changes such as irritability or combativeness, disorientation or confusion, delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. If these symptoms ar
