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Vomiting and apparent life-threatening event

Brian Wohlwend1, Laura Fitzmaurice, Lisa Lowe

  • 1Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas, MO 64108, USA.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|June 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

An infant experienced a life-threatening event after vomiting, leading to emergency medical services activation. The infant was diagnosed with intussusception, a common condition with an unusual presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) in infants warrant thorough investigation due to a broad differential diagnosis.
  • Vomiting can be a presenting symptom for various serious pediatric conditions.

Observation:

  • A 6-month-old female infant presented with an apparent life-threatening event following a vomiting episode.
  • Emergency medical services were activated for transport to the emergency department.

Findings:

  • The clinical presentation, though initially broad, was narrowed with further information.
  • The infant's final diagnosis was intussusception, a condition typically presenting differently.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering intussusception in infants presenting with ALTEs and vomiting, even with atypical symptoms.
  • Recognizing uncommon presentations of common pediatric emergencies is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
  • Effective emergency medical services (EMS) response and emergency department (ED) evaluation are vital for managing pediatric ALTEs.

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