Sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the term for the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant aged one month to one year. SIDS is a definition of exclusion and only applies to an infant whose death remains unexplained after the performance of an adequate postmortem investigation including (1) an autopsy, (2) investigation of the scene and circumstances of the death and (3) exploration of the medical history of the infant and family. Generally, but not always, the infant is found dead after having been put to sleep and exhibits no signs of having suffered. The inexplicable nature of the syndrome often leaves parents with a deep sense of guilt in addition to their grief. In the United Kingdom the term cot death is synonymous with SIDS, while crib death is a common term in the United States.

Statistics

SIDS is responsible for roughly 50 deaths per 100,000 births in the US. It is responsible for far fewer deaths than congenital disorders and disorders related to short gestation; though it becomes the leading cause of death in otherwise healthy babies after one month of age.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The frequency of SIDS appears to be a strong function of the age, race, education, and socio-economic status of the parents.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~