A mother warns about BRUE via TikTok, an unrecognized syndrome characterized by a sudden stoppage of an infant’s breathing.
- On TikTok, a mother shares that her six-week-old daughter suffered from BRUE.
- This name designates a syndrome characterized by a cessation of breathing.
- There is no definite cause and it resolves spontaneously.
Sarah Bendel films her granddaughter Jojo, waking up, with her children. Then, suddenly, his eldest daughter alerts him. The six-month-old baby spits up, turns red and stiffens. “She didn’t make any more noise, didn’t scream. She wasn’t coughing. She wasn’t breathing”says the mother of the family in a video TikTok. Immediately, she screams “she does not breathe, she does not breathe!“, speaking to her husband present in a room next door. In various videos published on the social network, the American explains that her little girl suffered a BRUE, that is to say a brief resolved unexplained eventa short unexplained resolved event in French.
@sarahbendel #BRUE #briefresolveduneexplainedevent BRUE AWARENESS. This was so traumatic. I can’t even begin to describe the panic that set in. Jojo is 6 weeks old and suffered with this today. #6weekold #6weekoldbaby #infant ♬ Cool Kids (our sped up version) – Echosmith
BRUE: What is this syndrome, marked by infant breathing stopping?
This syndrome only affects children under one year old. BRUE is characterized by three main criteria: its duration, its resolution and the absence of explanation. As one explains document from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the BRUE lasts less than a minute, generally its duration is between 20 and 30 seconds. In Jojo’s case, her mother estimates that she stopped breathing for about 45 seconds. She was able to estimate this time thanks to the video of the baby monitor, positioned above her bed and which recorded the whole scene.
For the American Academy of Pediatrics, the syndrome is also characterized by its rapid resolution. “The patient returned to his normal state of health after the event., explains the text. There should be no fever, and the child should have a “normal appearance“. This means that the syndrome excludes all cases where the child suffers from disturbances in heart rhythm, tension or even all those who show signs of trauma.
Finally, the third criterion is the absence of explanation. BRUE cannot be explained by a precise pathology.
BRUE: what care for infants?
In the case of Jojo, the doctors decided to hospitalize him for three days, as his mother explains on TikTok. She was thus monitored by the medical teams. Since then, she has regained her form and is in perfect health, according to her mother.
According to’American Pediatric Association, in case of suspicion of BRUE, caregivers should perform a thorough examination to observe the current state of health of the child, but also to inquire about his history. This can make it possible to rule out other pathologies such as neurological or respiratory disorders, according to the MSD manual. If a cause is identified then it must be treated, but in the absence of a specific factor, there is no defined protocol. Home monitoring can be set up. In all cases, a new health examination must be carried out within 24 hours. “Parents and caregivers should be trained in the management of BRUE and offered training in infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation and care“, specifies the MSD manual with regard to infants at low risk of recurrence.
BRUE and cessation of breathing: what are the risks of complications?
“Most often, a BRUE is harmless and is not a sign of more serious health problems or deathspecifies the site intended for health professionals. A BRUE is unlikely to be a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome.“It is the possible causes that can determine the risk. If the child has other disorders in addition, there can be complications.
If the child regains a normal state of health quickly, it is advisable to consult a doctor, otherwise, it is necessary to go to the emergency room, especially if there is a history.
