A Brief Resolved Unexplained Event and Congenital Neurosyphilis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Neonatology
• Infectious disease

Background:

• Brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE) is a frequent diagnosis in pediatric emergency and ambulatory settings.
• Current guidelines stratify infants with BRUE into low- and high-risk categories.

Observation:

• Low-risk infants with BRUE can typically be managed with caregiver education and discharged home.
• High-risk infants necessitate further diagnostic testing and observation to identify the underlying etiology.

Findings:

• Congenital neurosyphilis is identified as a rare but significant cause of BRUE.
• Evaluation of high-risk infants with BRUE should prioritize diagnoses suggested by clinical presentation.

Implications:

• This highlights the importance of considering infectious etiologies, such as congenital neurosyphilis, in the differential diagnosis of high-risk BRUE.
• Clinical assessment and targeted investigations are crucial for appropriate management of infants with BRUE.