Epidemiology

A total of 1207 cases of Reye's syndrome were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US between 1980 and 1997.[5] The peak incidence occurred in 1980, with 555 cases reported. The incidence has steadily declined since 1980, possibly due to over-diagnosis in previous years, improved metabolic testing, lower prevalence of influenza, and a decline in paediatric aspirin consumption. Since 1994, there have been 2 or fewer cases reported per year in the US. The 2009 incidence is thought to be between <0.3 and 1.0/100,000 in people under 18 years old.[6][7][8] The exact incidence is difficult to establish because reporting cases of Reye's syndrome to the CDC in the US is no longer mandated.[9]

Of the 1207 cases of Reye's syndrome reported to the CDC in the US between 1980 to 1997, 93% occurred in white patients; 5% of patients were black, 2% were Asian, and 0.3% were Native American or Native Alaskan.[5] There was no sex predilection. Peak age of incidence was between 5 and 14 years, with a median of 6 years and a mean of 7 years.[5] Antecedent viral illness during the three week period prior to onset of Reye's syndrome, most commonly respiratory, was reported in 93% of patients (n=1080) for whom data was available (n=1160).[5] An increase in the number of cases in the US was found during the months of December to April, which correlated with the peak occurrences of most viral respiratory infections.[5] Since the 1990s, this seasonal association has diminished. Globally, a seasonal predominance has not been found.[5]

Reye's syndrome rarely occurs in children <1 year old or in those aged >18 years old.[5][10]

In the UK and Ireland, 264 cases of Reye's syndrome were reported between 1981 and 1985; only 5 cases were reported between 1996 and 1997.[11][6][12] Reye's syndrome is a rare diagnosis for continental Europe and Asia.[6]

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