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.

📝 Summary

In short: 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.

Common 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.

🌿 Overview

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.

🔎 Why it happens

Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.

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.

✅ What to do

Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.

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, vitamin 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 tea to relieve nausea.
To strengthen and rebuild the liver: hawthorn berry, wild yam, milk thistle, and pau d'arco are all beneficial.

⭐ 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.

1Water & Hydration Therapy
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.100573

2Rest & Sleep Practice
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.97431

3Raw Honey Food
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.85282

4Lemon & Vitamin-C Foods Food
Vitamin C supports immune function and liver regeneration during recovery from Reye's syndrome; citrus juices also provide glucose that the recovering liver needs.91281

5Ginger Root Herb
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.83256

6Turmeric Herb
Curcumin's hepatoprotective properties may provide gentle liver support during the recovery phase from Reye's syndrome-related liver damage.83186

7Vegetable Broth Food
Clear vegetable broth provides easily absorbed glucose, electrolytes, and minerals during recovery when solid food tolerance is limited.88157

8Probiotic Foods Food
After the acute phase, restoring the gut microbiome supports digestive recovery and nutrient absorption as the child returns to normal eating.81143

9Echinacea Herb
As the child recovers from the viral illness that preceded Reye's syndrome, immune support with very mild echinacea tea may help reduce vulnerability to further infection.7888

Crowd feedback, not medical advice — in this preview your vote is saved on your device. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit).

📊 Compare these remedies side by side

Our editor score weighs sources, safety, simplicity, cost, and lifestyle fit. Source endorsements tally how many books and studies reference each remedy. A higher number isn't a promise — it's just a starting point.

Remedy	Type	Editor score	Source endorsements
Water & Hydration	Therapy	100	573
Rest & Sleep	Practice	97	431
Raw Honey	Food	85	282
Lemon & Vitamin-C Foods	Food	91	281
Ginger Root	Herb	83	256
Turmeric	Herb	83	186
Vegetable Broth	Food	88	157
Probiotic Foods	Food	81	143
Echinacea	Herb	78	88

🍽️ 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.

🩺 When to see a doctor

📚 Learn more

Trusted, independent sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.

Reye syndrome — Wikipedia ↗

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