They may also be linked to the inhalation of vomit. However, in about half of the cases a cause is not found. In some instances it appears that a baby somehow forgets how to breathe. Some babies with unexplained ALTEs may have repeat attacks. The baby may need vigorous stimulation and resuscitation to start normal breathing.
Cot death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for no obvious reason.
It is not known whether a baby dies because breathing has stopped, or whether breathing has ceased because the baby is dead. There are some similarities between babies who have prolonged apnoeic attacks and cot death babies. For example, they occur in the same age range, are more frequent in boys than girls, and are more common in premature babies. Some babies with ALTEs have been shown to be at greater risk of sudden death. This page contains basic information.