Recovery from Reye’s Syndrome is related to the amount that the brain swells during the course of the illness. Some people make a full recovery while others sustain a range between slight and extremely severe brain damage. If a Reye’s sufferer progresses rapidly into the disease and lapses into a coma, the prognosis for a full recovery is poor.
Reye’s patients who survive the disease should undergo neuropsychological and psychological testing. Parents of children who are disabled by Reye’s Syndrome should become familiar with the Equal Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Act as well as the Disabilities Act of 1990. Both of these acts can be accessed at all public libraries.
The Reye’s Syndrome Survivor
Some Reye’s Syndrome survivors suffer from brain damage and/or disability. There are no statistics available as the numbers of patients who are affected in these ways have never been recorded. Brain damage and disability can range from very slight to extremely severe. Rehabilitation attempts differ greatly and cannot be predicted. Parents of children who suffer from Reye’s Syndrome should be aware of potential problems and serves that can assist them. Early psychological evaluation is imperative and should be followed-up in order to identify any problems. Appropriate educational assistance and a proper course of therapy should be implemented.
Problem Areas
Specific problem areas that may appear after Reye’s Syndrome includes, but may not be limited to, difficulty concentrating, trouble remembering, inattention, unable to complete certain tasks that at one time could be completed with ease, difficulty with language and/or speech and changes in activity levels. Specific problems may arise in combination with other problems or individually. These problems can cause a child’s academic marks to plummet or change their ability to concentrate and complete tasks. Difficulty with mathematics, reading, spelling and/or writing may become apparent. Children who had pre-existing problems may have more severe difficulties after suffering Reye’s.
Some children appear to have escaped the effects of Reye’s Syndrome only to have them appear later. Parents should be vigilant to changes in academic, mental or physical changes in children who have suffered from Reye’s.