Reye’s syndrome is an emergency that requires immediate hospitalization. Treatment usually takes place in intensive care.
There is no specific treatment for treating Reye’s syndrome.
Treatment of Reye’s syndrome is supportive.
In a child, drugs that help intermediate metabolism, such as carnitines, are usually given.
An attempt is made to reduce the cerebral edema of the affected person with postural measures, hypertonic fluids and diuretics.
General measures
Supportive care in relation to the severity of the disease.
Nasogastric tube, bladder catheterization, monitoring of arterial pressure and central venous pressure.
Hyperventilation, mannitol, barbiturates and/or decompressive craniotomy to reduce intracranial pressure.
Mechanical ventilation.
Dialysis to reduce high ammonium levels.
Intravenous glucose and close blood glucose monitoring to prevent severe hypoglycemia.
No oral feeding.
Choice pharmacies:
Neomycin 100 mg/kg/day
Vitamin K 5 mg/day intramuscular
To reduce intracranial pressure:
Mannitol 0.5-1 g/kg intravenously and dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg/day
Warning: not to use mannitol if the patient is anuric. It can lead to hypervolaemia with pulmonary edema.
An emergency liver transplant may be required, which improves survival but makes the disease a chronic disease meaning these children require lifelong immunosuppressive treatment to prevent rejection of the implanted liver.