A 5-year-old with a respiratory syncytial virus infection has a low grade fever. His mother asks the nurse if aspirin is a good medication for fever and pain related to the infection. The nurse warns the mother to avoid giving aspirin to her child because it is linked to:

Explanation

•Although the exact cause of Reye's syndrome is unknown, the use of aspirin in children during a viral infection has been linked to the development of Reye's syndrome.

•Reye's syndrome can cause hypoglycemia, rash, vomiting, and even damage to the brain and liver.

•The use of aspirin in children has not been linked to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn's disease, or rheumatic fever.

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