Usually when teenagers or kids feel achy and sick, their parents reach over for the aspirin. However, a recent study shows that giving aspirin to teenagers or kids with a viral infections could increase the risk of getting reye syndrome. Reye’s syndrome is a serious condition that causes swelling in the brain, liver damage and confusion that typically affects children under 15 years of age, the syndrome usually begins when kids have a cold or the flu. However, doctors are still unaware how people could get reye syndrome.  

“Fortunately, you can help protect your child from getting Reye syndrome. Since health experts first began warning parents about the link between Reye’s syndrome and aspirin in children and the number of cases has fallen dramatically. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends never giving aspirin to a child or teen who may have a viral infection.” says CNN.

They also recommend not to give kids medicine that contain Acetylsalicylate, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylate,or salicylic acid. Parents should instead give teens and kids tylenol or ibuprofen.

“ I never used aspirin because I had read an article that it causes brain  problems,” junior Erroll Taylor said.

According to doitnow.org, “Children and teenagers are also better off with using a different kind of pain reliever. Aspirin can trigger a serious, often fatal illness called reye’s syndrome in young people recovering from chickenpox or the flu.The syndrome can cause brain damage and death. Because of the risks, aspirin makers are required by law to add warning labels about Reye’s syndrome to product packages.”

Smoky Hill’s parents and students should not use aspirin until they are over 18 so the risk of reye’s syndrome will not increase.