What Are the Most Common Reye's Syndrome Symptoms?

There are many symptoms that may indicate a person has Reye's syndrome, a potentially deadly condition that often affects children. Among them are changes in sugar and acid levels in the blood; brain, liver, and kidney swelling; vomiting; and diarrhea. Many patients also lack energy and feel the need to sleep a good deal. Confusion, irritability, and increased aggression are also among the most common Reye's syndrome symptoms. Some people also develop weakness or paralysis in various parts of their bodies, lose consciousness, or even suffer seizures.

While most people think of symptoms as effects a person can feel or notice without help from a medical professional, some signs of Reye's syndrome require a doctor's help to detect. For instance, a person usually has lowered blood sugar levels because of Reye's syndrome as well as changes in the pH of his blood. The brain and other vital organs, such as the liver and kidneys, often swell as well. Generally, a doctor's evaluation and diagnostic tests are required for determining whether these signs are present.

Some of the most common Reye's syndrome symptoms are those that involve the gastrointestinal system. Often, children with this condition experience vomiting or diarrhea, but this may depend on the age of the child involved. In many cases, children under two years old are more likely to have diarrhea while older children are more likely to vomit as a sign of this illness. When vomiting does occur, it is usually frequent rather than occurring just once or twice, as with some other illnesses. In fact, vomiting may become so problematic that people describe it as continuous.

A person can also become unusually sleepy or fatigued as one of the Reye's syndrome symptoms. For example, an affected child may seem unusually tired for much of the day, even after he has slept for a significant period of time. He might also have difficulty taking part in his normal activities. In some cases, a child may even lose consciousness because of this syndrome.

Changes in behavior and mental state are also among the common Reye's syndrome symptoms. For instance, a person with this condition may seem more irritable than normal, and some might describe him as overly emotional. In some cases, an affected person acts aggressively as well. Even confusion and behaving in an irrational manner can be signs of this condition in some people.

Other Reye's syndrome symptoms can include weakness in a limb or other part of the body. Some body parts may become paralyzed as a symptom of this condition as well. An individual with Reye's syndrome could even become delirious or experience seizures because of it.