TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2002//
TI  - Apparent life threatening events in infants presenting to an emergency department
JO  - Emergency medicine journal
A1  - Davies, Ffion C.
A1  - Gupta, Rangan
SP  - 11
EP  - 16
VL  - 19
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the aetiology and outcome of apparent life threatening events (ALTE) presenting to an emergency department (ED), and to assess the value of an initial investigation protocol. DESIGN: A 12 month prospective study of infants under 1 year of age who presented to a children's hospital ED after an ALTE. A standardised history sheet and initial investigation protocol were used. All infants were admitted to hospital and followed up at six months. RESULTS: There were 65 infants recruited, median age 7 weeks. None had died at the time of writing. Diagnoses included gastro-oesophageal reflux n=17 (26%), pertussis, n=6 (9%), seizures, n=6 (9%), urinary tract infection (5), factitious illness (2), brain tumour, atrial tachycardia, persistent ductus arteriosus and opioid related apnoea. No diagnosis was reached in 15 cases (23%). Fifty seven (88%) had only one admission to hospital for ALTE. More serious diagnoses were associated with a presentation age over 2 months, abnormal initial clinical examination, and recurrent ALTE. CONCLUSIONS: ALTEs presenting to the ED may remain as a single, unexplained event or be attributable to numerous causes, ranging from minor to serious. Knowledge of the commoner causes and factors associated with higher risk could result in a more targeted approach, improving the decision making process and benefiting both infants and parents.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1472-0205
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -