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, it has been linked to the use of aspirin in children during a viral infection (though it does occur in the absence of aspirin use in rare cases).

•Reye's syndrome is potentially fatal and causes fatty liver, cerebral edema leading to brain damage, hypoglycemia, rash, vomiting, and changes in the kidneys.

•Incorrect options: 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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