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Title: ALTE

Category: Pediatrics

Keywords: ALTE , Apparent Life Threatening Events, color change, apnea, SIDS, Seizure (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/8/2007 by Sean Fox, MD (Updated: 7/21/2026)

ALTE (Apparent Life Threatening Events) Defined as an episode characterized by some combination of apnea, color change, change in tone, choking, and/or gaging. Vast DDx ==> Get Bedside Glucose Early (should be part of vital signs) ==> Keep Non-accidental Trauma on the list ==> ~50% are classified as Idiopathic Risk Factors associated with Increased Mortality: ==> Sleep Onset ==> Prior Similar Episode ==> Sibling a Victim of SIDS ==> Development of Seizure D/O during monitoring 7.8% of ALTE pt s with a Normal ED evaluation required medical intervention during hospitalization. -Oren, J., D. Kelly, and D.C. Shannon, Identification of a high-risk group for sudden infant death syndrome among infants who were resuscitated for sleep apnea. Pediatrics, 1986. 77(4): p. 495-9. -De Piero, A.D., S.J. Teach, and J.M. Chamberlain, ED evaluation of infants after an apparent life-threatening event. Am J Emerg Med, 2004. 22(2): p. 83-6.
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