National Reye syndrome surveillance, 1982

Despite the fact that influenza B was the primary influenza virus strain during the winter of 1981-1982, only 213 cases of Reye syndrome were reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) between Dec 1, 1981 and Nov 30, 1982. This national reported incidence of 0.33 cases per 100,000 children less than 18 years of age is the lowest reported incidence since the Centers for Disease Control began surveillance in 1973. This relatively low incidence probably reflected, at least in part, the fact the influenza B activity was spotty and the illness relatively mild the winter of 1981-1982. The 213 cases were reported from 43 states; and in 56% of the patients, Reye syndrome occurred following a respiratory illness. The mean age of the children was 7.0 years; there were equal numbers of girls and boys; and 93% were white. Of the ten black patients, 80% were less than 1 year of age compared with 9% of the white patients. Of the 208 patients with reported admission stage, 45% were admitted in stage I or 0, a slightly lower proportion than that observed in the previous 2 years. Salicylate levels were obtained in 55% of the patients and were reported as "detectable" in 81% compared with 96% in 1981 (P = .003, chi 2). Of the 200 patients with known outcome, 70 patients died (a case fatality ratio of 35%).