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.

•Incorrect: 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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