Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Apnea Spell - Apparent Life-Threatening Event
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the condition diagnosed?
The diagnosis of ALTE begins with a thorough physical exam and a full medical history. The infant may appear fine and healthy. Various lab tests will usually be normal.
The healthcare provider will want information on how the baby was before and after the episode. He or she will ask a variety of questions including:
If the infant appears ill, a variety of lab tests may be done to find the underlying cause of the ALTE. The tests done depend on the infant's symptoms. For example, a spinal tap may be done on an infant who has an episode of ALTE along with a fever in order to test for meningitis, a serious infection. If a heart murmur is heard, further cardiac testing may be done, such as an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram. A chest X-ray may be done if the doctor suspects pneumonia or whooping cough.