Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Aspirin Good For Flu, But Not Kids

With one death attributed to Reye's syndrome during this year's flu season in Arkansas, doctors at Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) are reminding parents about the dangers of giving aspirin to children under 18 years of age.

A rare but life-threatening condition, Reye's syndrome (pronounced rye's) can appear in children and teenagers soon after the occurrence of influenza, chicken pox or other viral infections. The Centers for Disease Control reports only about 50 cases each year, and this is the first case of Reye's at ACH in several years, doctors say.

Although the exact cause of Reye's remains unknown, research has shown that products containing the chemical salicylate (pronounced suh-LISS-uh-late'), such as aspirin, significantly increase the chance of contracting the condition.

"Children absolutely should not receive aspirin for the treatment of fever, because of the possible association with Reye's," warns Dr. Steve Schexnayder, a critical care and emergency physician with ACH. "While aspirin appears to be safe for treating fever in adults, it clearly should be avoided in kids."

For children who have developed the fever, chills and muscle aches associated with the flu, Dr. Schexnayder recommends non-aspirin medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Unless instructed by a doctor, parents should avoid giving children products that contain aspirin or salicylates, such as Pepto-Bismol, Excedrin, Anacin, Bufferin, Coricidin, Triaminicin, Alka-Seltzer, Aspergum and Dristan.

Dr. Schexnayder advises that children see a physician at the first onset of flu-like symptoms, such as loss of appetite, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose and nausea.

"Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the newest anti-flu medications for treating children under 12," Dr. Schexnayder says, "but there are older products that can provide some relief to children if given within the first 48 hours."

If a child is given aspirin and develops Reye's syndrome, early diagnosis is the key to survival, according to Dr. Schexnayder.

Children recovering from a viral infection should see a doctor immediately if they develop continuous vomiting, extreme nausea, persistent loss of energy, drowsiness, hyperventilation or staring. Children with advanced cases can exhibit irritability, aggressive behavior, delirium, disorientation, slurred speech, convulsions and coma.

Arkansas Children's Hospital is the state's only pediatric hospital and is one of the 10 largest in the nation. More than 200,000 children are treated annually in the hospital's inpatient and outpatient facilities.