A mother asks why she was told never to give aspirin to her 4-year-old son who has influenza. The condition being prevented and its characteristic pathology are:
- A Reye syndrome with hepatic microvesicular fatty change and cerebral oedema ✓
- B Kawasaki disease with coronary artery aneurysms
- C Guillain-Barre syndrome with segmental demyelination
- D Acute haemorrhagic gastritis with gastric mucosal erosions
Correct answer: A. Reye syndrome with hepatic microvesicular fatty change and cerebral oedema
Explanation
Aspirin use in children with viral illnesses, especially influenza and varicella, is associated with Reye syndrome, characterised by encephalopathy, cerebral oedema and microvesicular fatty infiltration of the liver, with elevated transaminases and ammonia. The mechanism may involve mitochondrial injury by salicylate metabolites. Kawasaki disease is actually treated with high-dose aspirin, which makes option B a tempting distractor.
Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.