From: Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTE): Italian guidelines
• Weight, length, head circumference • Monitoring of the vital functions: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), blood pressure (BP), skin temperature, Sp,O2 • Type of crying • Respiratory function | |
• Skin colour, skin perfusion (capillary refilling time) | |
• State of hydration • Eye assessment (extra-ocular movements, pupillary response, conjunctival bleeding, examination of the retina if indicated) • Examination of ear and oropharynx (nasal congestion and secretions, blood in nostrils or oral cavity, evidence of injuries or obstructions, tearing of frenulum) • Search for possible craniofacial dysmorphisms (mandible, jaw, nose) • Assessment of the neck mobility | |
• Peripheral pulses, rhythm, rate, heart auscultation • Physical examination of the abdomen (organomegaly, masses, abdominal distension), inspection of genitals | |
• Anterior fontanel tension, shape of head, bruises or other lesions • Palpation of ribs for possible yielding, crepitus, irregularities | |
• Limbs: muscle tone, lesions, deformities with possible fractures | |
• Neurobehavioural assessment, muscle tone, reflexes • Neurological assessment (reactivity to external stimuli, response to sound and visual stimuli, general tone, pupillary reflexes to light, symmetry of the movement, tone and strength) • Presence of meningeal symptoms |