Reye's syndrome.

Although frequently unrecognized, Reye's syndrome is a significant cause of serious illness and death in children. Erroneous diagnoses include gastroenteritis, meningoencephalitis, metabolic encephalopathy, drug overdose and primary psychiatric disease. No specific cure is known but early diagnosis and vigorous empirical treatment may increase chances of survival. Although the EEG may be a useful tool in prognosis, it cannot be relied upon in deciding when to initiate or abandon aggressive therapy.