Apparent life-threatening event or child abuse?
Children with apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) often pose a diagnostic and management dilemma in a pediatric emergency department. Although the term ALTE is nonspecific and symptoms are vague, it may have alarming connotations and may signal serious life threatening conditions. It may be a subtle presentation of child abuse. We report an infant who was presented with an ALTE and subsequently determined to have subdural hematoma caused by nonaccidental injury.
Waseem
Muhammad
M
Department of Emergency Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY 10451, USA. waseemm2001@hotmail.com
Pinkert
Heidi
H
D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D038642:Shaken Baby Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*