ALTE
Medical abbreviation · Pediatric & Neonatal
| Stands for | Apparent life-threatening event |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ALTE stands for Apparent life-threatening event, a pediatric & neonatal abbreviation.
Older term, defined at a 1986 NIH consensus conference, for an episode frightening to an observer involving some combination of apnea, color change, limpness, choking or gagging in an infant. It was replaced by BRUE in 2016.
Example: Admitted in 2014 for ALTE; workup negative, no recurrence.
Usage notes
The ALTE definition relied on the caregiver's perception of danger, which led to extensive and often unnecessary testing and admissions. BRUE narrowed the definition to unexplained events and introduced risk stratification. Pronounced "AL-tee".
Related abbreviations
More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations
- AGE – Acute gastroenteritis
- AHT – Abusive head trauma
- APGAR – Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (Apgar score)
- BRUE – Brief resolved unexplained event
- CCHD – Critical congenital heart disease
- DD – Developmental delay
- DOL – Day of life
- DTaP – Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine
- EI – Early intervention
- ELBW – Extremely low birth weight
- FASD – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
- FTT – Failure to thrive
See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.