A case of Reye's-like syndrome due to suspected Bordetella pertussis infection in an adult

Abstract

We report a rare case of Reye's-like syndrome associated with suspected pertussis infection. A 26-year-old woman admitted comatose and found in laboratory studies to have acute liver dysfunction, severe hypoglycemia and prolonged prothrombin time, was diagnosed with clinical Reye's-like syndrome due to aspirin use. Her child was probably infected with pertussis, which she contracted and which, in turn, triggered Reye's-like syndrome.