Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Latest News

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause of infant mortality globally and October is marked as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome month.

About Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

• It is the term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of an infant that is less than one year old, for which no cause can be found even after an investigation.
• It is sometimes known as ‘cot death’ or ‘crib death’, even though cots and cribs are not the cause of these deaths.
• The most SIDS deaths occur during the first six months of a baby’s life.
• It occurs slightly more in baby boys and happens when the baby is asleep.

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Risk Factors for SIDS

• Premature birth or low birth weight;
• A family history as babies who have had a sibling who died of SIDS are at a higher risk; Exposure to smoking/secondhand smoke during or after pregnancy;
• Unsafe sleeping positions or environments and poor prenatal care.

Possible Causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

• Problems of under-development of the part of the brain that helps control breathing and waking during sleep.
• It may also be a genetic vulnerability or a vulnerability to environmental stresses.
• Vaccines do not cause SIDS.

Source: TH