Children & Infants
Reye's Syndrome
A rare but life-threatening condition in children affecting the brain and liver, strongly associated with giving aspirin during viral infections. Prevention is critical — never give aspirin to a child with a fever.
Also known as: syndrome (definition: group of related symptoms occurring together), nausea (definition: feeling of sickness or urge to vomit)
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Reye's Syndrome primarily strikes children ages 4–15, most frequently young teens, in the fall or winter.; Most cases follow a viral infection such as influenza or chicken pox.; A CDC study found that 96% of children who contracted Reye's Syndrome had been given aspirin during a viral illness, with a direct correlation between the amount of aspirin given and the severity of the disease..
First thing to try: This is a medical emergency.
See a doctor if: Reye's syndrome is a medical emergency — repeated vomiting with confusion or unusual sleepiness after a viral illness: call 911
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Reye's Syndrome primarily strikes children ages 4–15, most frequently young teens, in the fall or winter.
- Most cases follow a viral infection such as influenza or chicken pox.
- A CDC study found that 96% of children who contracted Reye's Syndrome had been given aspirin during a viral illness, with a direct correlation between the amount of aspirin given and the severity of the disease.
- Children's aspirin is banned in Britain for this reason.
- Aflatoxin (a grain mold toxin from Aspergillus flavus) may also be a causative factor.
- The drug Tigan (used to control vomiting) has also been implicated.
- Despite severe liver involvement, the liver can recover fully within 12 weeks if the person survives the acute crisis.
Change what you can
- This is a medical emergency.
- If symptoms appear just after a viral infection — agitation, disorientation, prolonged vomiting, and drowsiness — call a physician and phone emergency services immediately.
- During the crisis, IV vitamin C (5–10 grams per day) is beneficial.
- B-complex, vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → B12 (1,000 mcg), and selenium (250–500 mcg per day) given intramuscularly support recovery.
- IV glucose and electrolytes given within 12–24 hours of heavy vomiting greatly improve survival.
- After the acute phase passes, give peppermint and ginger teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → to relieve nausea.
- To strengthen and rebuild the liver: hawthorn berry, wild yam, and milk thistle are all beneficial.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- Reye's syndrome is a medical emergency — repeated vomiting with confusion or unusual sleepiness after a viral illness: call 911
- Never give aspirin to children or teens during viral illness — that is the key prevention
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your reye's syndrome — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
A rare but life-threatening condition in children affecting the brain and liver, strongly associated with giving aspirin during viral infections. Prevention is critical — never give aspirin to a child with a fever.
Reye's syndrome is a rare but very serious condition, mainly in children, that causes sudden swelling of the brain and liver, typically during recovery from a viral illness such as flu or chickenpox. It is strongly linked to giving aspirin during a viral infection, which is why aspirin is no longer given to children and teenagers (except on specific medical advice).
This is a life-threatening emergency: persistent vomiting, confusion, unusual sleepiness, irritability, or behavior changes in a child recovering from a viral illness require immediate medical care, where early treatment greatly improves the outcome. There is no home remedy. The single most important natural and practical safeguard is prevention — never giving aspirin or aspirin-containing products to children or teens with a viral illness, and using only doctor-approved alternatives such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain in that setting. Awareness of this simple rule has made Reye's syndrome very rare.
Common signs
- Just after a viral illness, the child develops: sudden fever and prolonged heavy vomiting
- rapid change in mental status — agitation, disorientation, delirium, fatigue, lethargy, and memory lapses
- then confusion, drowsiness, nausea, amnesia, and possibly coma, convulsions, fixed and dilated pupils, and death. Weakness or paralysis in limbs, speech impairment, hearing loss, and double vision may also occur.
⭐ Community-ranked natural supports
Vote ▲ on everything that helped you, and ▼ on anything you tried that didn't — the ranking updates live. Tap 💬 to share what worked, so others can find it faster.
Hydration is the most critical supportive measure — Reye's syndrome causes profound metabolic crisis including hypoglycemia; IV glucose and fluids are given in hospital, and oral rehydration is important during recovery.1000
Complete rest during the acute phase and extended convalescence afterward allows the liver and brain to recover from the acute injury of Reye's syndrome.970
Vitamin C supports immune function and liver regeneration during recovery from Reye's syndrome; citrus juices also provide glucose that the recovering liver needs.920
Clear vegetable broth provides easily absorbed glucose, electrolytes, and minerals during recovery when solid food tolerance is limited.890
For children over 12 months, a small amount of honey in warm water provides easy-to-absorb sugars that support blood glucose stability during convalescent recovery.880
After the acute phase, restoring the gut microbiome supports digestive recovery and nutrient absorption as the child returns to normal eating.830
Mild ginger tea helps address the nausea and vomiting that characterize Reye's syndrome during the recovery phase, when the child begins tolerating oral fluids.820
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
⚖️ Good to know
- CRITICAL: Never give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to a child or youth who has a fever from any cause.
- This is the primary preventable cause of Reye's Syndrome.
- For pain or fever relief in children, use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin) instead.
- Aspirin in any form — including children's aspirin — should never be given to anyone under 18 with a viral illness.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Reye's syndrome is a life-threatening pediatric emergency requiring immediate ICU hospitalization; the most important public health intervention is NEVER giving aspirin or aspirin-containing products to children or teenagers with viral illness.
Commonly offered
- ICU hospitalization — this is a medical emergency–
- IV dextrose (glucose) to correct dangerous hypoglycemia–
- Mannitol or ICP monitoring for cerebral edema and raised intracranial pressure–
- IV fluids and electrolyte management–
- Vitamin K and blood products for coagulopathy–
- Mechanical ventilation if consciousness is impaired–
- CRITICAL PREVENTION: Never give aspirin or bismuth salicylate (Pepto-Bismol) to children or adolescents with viral illness–
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📚 Learn more
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