Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye¿s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health
“A fascinating history of a public health crisis. Compellingly written and insightful, Keep Out of Reach of Children traces the discovery of Reye’s syndrome, research into its causes, industry’s efforts to avoid warning labels on one suspected cause, aspirin, and the feared disease’s sudden disappearance. Largent’s empathy is with the myriad children and parents harmed by the disease, while he challenges the triumphalist view that labeling solved the crisis.” —ERIK M. CONWAY, coauthor of Merchants of Doubt

“Largent’s engaging and honest account explores how medical mysteries are shaped by prevailing narratives about venal drug companies, heroic investigators, and Johnny-come-lately politicians.” —HELEN EPSTEIN, author of The Invisible Cure

“Fascinating. . . . Thought-provoking.” —Booklist

“Well-researched. . . . A revealing work.” —Kirkus Reviews

Reye’s syndrome, identified in 1963, was a debilitating, rare condition that typically afflicted healthy children just emerging from the flu or other minor illnesses. It began with vomiting, followed by confusion, coma, and in 50 percent of all cases, death. Survivors were often left with permanent liver or brain damage. Desperate, terrorized parents and doctors pursued dramatic, often ineffectual treatments. For over fifteen years, many inconclusive theories were posited as to its causes. The Centers for Disease Control dispatched its Epidemic Intelligence Service to investigate, culminating in a study that suggested a link to aspirin. Congress held hearings at which parents, researchers, and pharmaceutical executives testified. The result was a warning to parents and doctors to avoid pediatric use of aspirin, leading to the widespread substitution of alternative fever and pain reducers. But before a true cause was definitively established, Reye’s syndrome simply vanished.

A harrowing medical mystery, Keep Out of Reach of Children is the first and only book to chart the history of Reye’s syndrome and reveal the confluence of scientific and social forces that determined the public health policy response, for better or for ill.

Mark A. Largent, a survivor of Reye’s syndrome, is the author of Vaccine: The Debate in Modern America and Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States. He is a historian of science, Associate Professor in James Madison College at Michigan State University, and Associate Dean in Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. He lives in Lansing, Michigan.
1118973769
Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye¿s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health
“A fascinating history of a public health crisis. Compellingly written and insightful, Keep Out of Reach of Children traces the discovery of Reye’s syndrome, research into its causes, industry’s efforts to avoid warning labels on one suspected cause, aspirin, and the feared disease’s sudden disappearance. Largent’s empathy is with the myriad children and parents harmed by the disease, while he challenges the triumphalist view that labeling solved the crisis.” —ERIK M. CONWAY, coauthor of Merchants of Doubt

“Largent’s engaging and honest account explores how medical mysteries are shaped by prevailing narratives about venal drug companies, heroic investigators, and Johnny-come-lately politicians.” —HELEN EPSTEIN, author of The Invisible Cure

“Fascinating. . . . Thought-provoking.” —Booklist

“Well-researched. . . . A revealing work.” —Kirkus Reviews

Reye’s syndrome, identified in 1963, was a debilitating, rare condition that typically afflicted healthy children just emerging from the flu or other minor illnesses. It began with vomiting, followed by confusion, coma, and in 50 percent of all cases, death. Survivors were often left with permanent liver or brain damage. Desperate, terrorized parents and doctors pursued dramatic, often ineffectual treatments. For over fifteen years, many inconclusive theories were posited as to its causes. The Centers for Disease Control dispatched its Epidemic Intelligence Service to investigate, culminating in a study that suggested a link to aspirin. Congress held hearings at which parents, researchers, and pharmaceutical executives testified. The result was a warning to parents and doctors to avoid pediatric use of aspirin, leading to the widespread substitution of alternative fever and pain reducers. But before a true cause was definitively established, Reye’s syndrome simply vanished.

A harrowing medical mystery, Keep Out of Reach of Children is the first and only book to chart the history of Reye’s syndrome and reveal the confluence of scientific and social forces that determined the public health policy response, for better or for ill.

Mark A. Largent, a survivor of Reye’s syndrome, is the author of Vaccine: The Debate in Modern America and Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States. He is a historian of science, Associate Professor in James Madison College at Michigan State University, and Associate Dean in Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. He lives in Lansing, Michigan.
19.95 In Stock
Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye¿s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health

Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye¿s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health

by Mark A. Largent
Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye¿s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health

Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye¿s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health

by Mark A. Largent

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Overview

“A fascinating history of a public health crisis. Compellingly written and insightful, Keep Out of Reach of Children traces the discovery of Reye’s syndrome, research into its causes, industry’s efforts to avoid warning labels on one suspected cause, aspirin, and the feared disease’s sudden disappearance. Largent’s empathy is with the myriad children and parents harmed by the disease, while he challenges the triumphalist view that labeling solved the crisis.” —ERIK M. CONWAY, coauthor of Merchants of Doubt

“Largent’s engaging and honest account explores how medical mysteries are shaped by prevailing narratives about venal drug companies, heroic investigators, and Johnny-come-lately politicians.” —HELEN EPSTEIN, author of The Invisible Cure

“Fascinating. . . . Thought-provoking.” —Booklist

“Well-researched. . . . A revealing work.” —Kirkus Reviews

Reye’s syndrome, identified in 1963, was a debilitating, rare condition that typically afflicted healthy children just emerging from the flu or other minor illnesses. It began with vomiting, followed by confusion, coma, and in 50 percent of all cases, death. Survivors were often left with permanent liver or brain damage. Desperate, terrorized parents and doctors pursued dramatic, often ineffectual treatments. For over fifteen years, many inconclusive theories were posited as to its causes. The Centers for Disease Control dispatched its Epidemic Intelligence Service to investigate, culminating in a study that suggested a link to aspirin. Congress held hearings at which parents, researchers, and pharmaceutical executives testified. The result was a warning to parents and doctors to avoid pediatric use of aspirin, leading to the widespread substitution of alternative fever and pain reducers. But before a true cause was definitively established, Reye’s syndrome simply vanished.

A harrowing medical mystery, Keep Out of Reach of Children is the first and only book to chart the history of Reye’s syndrome and reveal the confluence of scientific and social forces that determined the public health policy response, for better or for ill.

Mark A. Largent, a survivor of Reye’s syndrome, is the author of Vaccine: The Debate in Modern America and Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States. He is a historian of science, Associate Professor in James Madison College at Michigan State University, and Associate Dean in Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. He lives in Lansing, Michigan.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781934137888
Publisher: Bellevue Literary Press
Publication date: 02/10/2015
Series: Bellevue Literary Press Pathographies
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Mark A. Largent is the author of Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye’s Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health; Vaccine: The Debate in Modern America; and Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States. He is a historian of science, Associate Professor in James Madison College at Michigan State University, and Associate Dean in Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. He earned his PhD from the Universityof Minnesota’s Program in the History of Science and Technology and has taught history of science, science policy, and American history classes at Michigan State, Oregon State, and the Universityof Puget Sound. He lives in Lansing, Michigan.

Table of Contents

Prologue 11

Chapter 1 The Discovery of Reye's Syndrome 25

Chapter 2 Toxins: The Obvious Cause 42

Chapter 3 The Deadly Mist 57

Chapter 4 The Front Line in the Battle against Reye's Syndrome 7

Chapter 5 The Aspirin Hypothesis 98

Chapter 6 The Aspirin Industry Responds 122

Chapter 7 The Rise of Labels and the Fall of Reye's 146

Chapter 8 Labels, At Last 162

Chapter 9 Triumph and Dissent 178

Chapter 10 The Politics of Public Health 197

Acknowledgments 211

Notes 214

Index 257

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