Tests for High-Risk Infants With BRUE
Tests | Possible Causes |
|---|---|
Typical initial testing | |
Blood tests, typically including
| Acidosis Anemia Dehydration Infection Liver disorders |
Chest x-ray | Cardiomegaly, pneumonia |
Cultures (blood, stool, urine, cerebrospinal fluid) | Infection |
ECG Cardiac monitoring in hospital | Arrhythmias QT abnormalities |
Echocardiography | Cardiomegaly |
Lumbar puncture | |
Pertussis testing | |
Skeletal survey | |
Toxicology screen | Drugs, medications, or toxins |
Urinalysis | Infection |
Additional tests based on clinical suspicion | |
Arterial blood gases | Acidosis |
Brain imaging (head CT, MRI) | Trauma, hemorrhage, tumor |
Electroencephalography | |
Esophageal pH monitoring* | |
Genetic testing | Possible genetic/metabolic disorder |
Nasal swab | |
Sleep study | Breathing or other problems during sleep |
Upper gastrointestinal study with radioisotope milk scanning* | |
* In infants with a history of spitting up, gagging, vomiting, coughing, or difficulty feeding. | |
BRUE = brief, resolved, unexplained event. | |