What event is characterized by unresponsiveness, cyanosis, and apnea in an infant who resumes breathing with stimulation?

Study for the AAOS Emergency Care and Transport of the Sick and Injured Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

The occurrence described in the question, characterized by unresponsiveness, cyanosis, and apnea in an infant who resumes breathing following stimulation, aligns with the definition of an Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE). An ALTE is generally recognized as an episode where an infant exhibits a combination of symptoms such as changes in color (like cyanosis), changes in responsiveness (unresponsiveness), and cessation of breathing (apnea), which can cause concern for caregivers and medical professionals.

What distinguishes an ALTE is that the infant typically recovers and resumes normal breathing with some form of stimulation. This recovery aspect is crucial for identifying ALTE as opposed to conditions like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), where the infant does not respond to stimulation due to sudden death, or asphyxia, which involves breathing difficulties typically not resolving spontaneously. Additionally, respiratory distress syndrome primarily pertains to difficulties in respiration generally stemming from a lack of surfactant in premature infants rather than the complete set of symptoms mentioned in the question.

Thus, an ALTE is the correct identification for the event based on the infant's symptoms and recovery after stimulation.

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