Final answer:
Kids should not be given aspirin due to the risk of Reye syndrome, which causes severe swelling in the liver and brain and can be fatal. Aspirin-containing products carry FDA warnings because of this association, and medication labels should be read carefully to avoid aspirin during viral infections in children and teenagers.
Step-by-step explanation:
You should avoid giving kids aspirin because of Reye syndrome. Reye syndrome is a serious condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain, leading to neurological damage, coma, or even death. It has been linked particularly to the use of aspirin or aspirin-containing products in children and teenagers who are recovering from a viral infection, such as influenza or chickenpox.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all aspirin products carry a warning label about the potential risk of Reye syndrome. To minimize this risk, it is essential to carefully read medication labels to ensure they do not contain aspirin, especially when treating viral illnesses in children under 19 years of age.