[Reye syndrome: a case study in a Cuban provincial hospital from 1990 to 1996]

Reye's syndrome is a metabolic encephalopathy of infancy which is often fatal. Epidemiological studies have shown associated factors including having taken Aspirin for viral illness. Some patients with this disorder may have preexisting organic acidemia such as dicarboxylic aciduria.

To study the behavior of Reye's syndrome in a group of patients during the years 1990-1996 in a provincial paediatric hospital and review variables such as age, sex, race, prodromal illness, previous consumption of Aspirin, hospital stay, mortality, diagnosis of dicarboxylic aciduria, etc.

We selected patients with Reye's syndrome seen during the period mentioned and considered the above variables.

All 10 patients seen with Reye's syndrome were boys. Their ages were between 3 months and 2 years. Most (nine) of the patients were Caucasian. All patients had influenza as the prodromal illness, and all took Aspirin as an antipyretic. There was considerable variation in the length of their stay in the hospital. In our series there was a high mortality and only two patients survived. One boy had dicarboxylic aciduria.

The fatal character of Reye's syndrome has been shown, as has its relation to the use Aspirin. In our environment there seems to be a tendency for Caucasian boys to be affected.