Apparent life-threatening events in neonates and infants of the first year of life

Abstract

There are presented data on the apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) that may develop as a sudden, frightening episode with the cessation of breathing (apnea), skin discoloration (cyanosis, pallor, redness), violation of muscle tone: lowering (more often) or rigidity, with the presence of cough or breathlessness in the first year infant. ALTE incidence ranges from 0.46 to 10 per 1000 live births. Common causes of ALTE are established to be gastroesophageal reflux disease, viral infections of the lower respiratory tract, convulsions, whooping cough, sepsis and/or meningitis, arrhythmias or congenital malformations of the heart and respiratory hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, cases of child abuse. There are described history characteristics and features of the examination of ALTE survivors. Most of the ALTE babies are indicated to require hospitalization for cardiorespiratory monitoring within 24 hours after the event. A child older than 30 days suffered from first ALTE clearly associated with feeding, can be observed and examined on an outpatient basis. There is notes particular importance of the new medical and organizational technologies for the improvement of newborn health care, which will significantly promote the prevention of these conditions.