Management of apparent life-threatening events

Apparent life-threatening events in infancy (ALTE) present a common yet complex management problem for the clinician. While an ALTE generally represents a benign event, in rarer instances it may indicate a serious underlying disorder. In most circumstances patients will require admission for a short period, thus providing the opportunity to perform a systematic, thorough examination, followed by the selective use of investigations. In all situations, however, even those with an unambiguous diagnosis, follow-up must be provided to detect recurrent episodes and to monitor long-term sequelae.