AI Article Synopsis
- Apparent life-threatening events (ALTE) in infants are sudden episodes of tone disorders and skin color changes, typically occurring in babies under 6 months old, and can be alarming for caregivers.
- While most causes of ALTE are benign, they require careful investigation through medical history and clinical examination, as some rare cases can lead to severe outcomes or sudden death.
- Common causes include gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive apneas, viral infections, and seizures, while also considering potential child abuse factors in the diagnosis.
Article Abstract
Apparent lifethreatening events in infants. The apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) of the infant is a classic symptom in pediatric emergencies. It is defined as a sudden and unexpected episode involving tone disorders and coloring (pallor, cyanosis) occurring usually before 6 months. It's severity, rare, is not correlated with the anxiety aroused in the adults around the child, but can be objectified by biological signs of tissue damage. Various etiologies can lead to ALTE, most often benign. The investigation is mainly based on history and clinical examination. Some very rare cases may be really severe, and even responsible of sudden death. Some simple and non-invasive complementary tests allow to diagnose them. Hospitalization is recommended in most cases. The classic and common causes include gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive apneas, viral infections, convulsive equivalents. Child abuse (shaken baby, fractures, Munchausen syndrome by proxy) can be with such a clinical picture.
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