How is periodic breathing of infancy defined?

Periodic breathing is a benign entity that must be distinguished from life threatening mimics. It is defined as the repeated occurrence of three or more respiratory pauses lasting 3 - 20 seconds with less than 20 seconds of breathing between pauses and NO associated color change or hypotonia.


Source

Adams, J. "Clinical features and management of apnea of prematurity" Up to Date. Sep 2010.

Burnett, L. "Pediatrics, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome" eMedicine. March 2009.