What is a BRUE in a baby?

What does the evidence show for brief resolved unexplained event in a baby?

• The term applies only after a history and examination find no explanation for a brief event in a baby under one year. If a cause such as infection, feeding-related difficulty or another medical problem is identified, the event needs care for that cause rather than the BRUE label. 1
• Clinicians distinguish lower-risk and higher-risk presentations using age, prematurity, the event history and examination. A young newborn or repeated event should not be assumed low risk because it was brief. The decision about testing and observation belongs to the evaluating team. 2
• If a baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services and begin infant CPR according to your training or dispatcher instructions. Do not shake the baby or wait to see whether a brief episode resolves. An ongoing emergency takes priority over naming the event. 3
• After assessment, continue an appropriate infant sleep setup: back positioning on a firm, flat surface, with the sleep area clear of loose objects. A frightening event is not a reason to add pillows, incline the mattress or assume a consumer monitor replaces safe sleep practices. 4
• Tell the clinician exactly what changed, how long it lasted, what happened before it and how the baby recovered. Include feeding, illness symptoms, prior events and any response given. A baby appearing normal afterward does not make that history unimportant. 1

When should I call my provider about brief resolved unexplained event in a baby?

Call emergency services immediately for blue or gray coloring, unresponsiveness or absent or abnormal breathing. If the baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin infant CPR as trained or directed by the dispatcher. Even a resolved frightening event needs prompt clinical assessment.