R68.13 Apparent life threatening event in infant (ALTE)

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Applicable to

• Apparent life threatening event in newborn
• Brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE)

Code first

• confirmed diagnosis, if known

Use additional code

• code(s) for associated signs and symptoms if no confirmed diagnosis established, or if signs and symptoms are not associated routinely with confirmed diagnosis, or provide additional information for cause of ALTE

Applies from R68.1 Nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy

Excludes1 (never code together)

• colic, infantile (R10.83)
• neonatal cerebral irritability (P91.3)
• teething syndrome (K00.7)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 951 in MDC 23.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 799.82 Apparent life threatening event in infant

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Pediatric diagnoses (age 0 through 17): Age conflict edit. These diagnoses are clinically expected only in patients age 0 through 17.

Diagnosis Index entries for R68.13

• ALTE (apparent life threatening event) in newborn and infant
• BRUE (brief resolved unexplained event)
• Event › apparent life threatening in newborn and infant (ALTE)
• Event › brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE)
• Newborn (infant) (liveborn) (singleton) › affected by › apparent life threatening event (ALTE)

Nearby codes

• R68 Other general symptoms and signs
• R68.0 Hypothermia, not associated with low environmental temperature
• R68.1 Nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy
• R68.11 Excessive crying of infant (baby)
• R68.12 Fussy infant (baby)
• R68.13 Apparent life threatening event in infant (ALTE) (this code)
• R68.19 Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy
• R68.2 Dry mouth, unspecified
• R68.3 Clubbing of fingers
• R68.8 Other general symptoms and signs
• R68.81 Early satiety