SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

          In the Western world, SIDS is the most common cause of death for infants between two weeks and one year of age, but SIDS also occurs throughout the world. SIDS most commonly happens during sleep, although it can occur anywhere, such as in baby carriages, safety car seats, or

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a condition that many people still are trying to figure out why it happens to these babies. This syndrome is described as an unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age. SIDS is frightening because it can strike without warning and affect a good, healthy infant. Most SIDS deaths occur at night and without warning. SIDS victims may have been down for sleep for as little as ten minutes, they show signs of struggle or suffering. Although SIDS is commonly associated with an infants sleep time, and often occurs in the crib. This event is not limited to the crib and may occur anywhere the infant is sleeping, deaths have occurred in

The black infant mortality rate in 2010, (11.8) was similar to the white infant mortality rate in 1980 (11.7); an unbelievable thirty year difference for a balance measure (Florida Vital Statistics Annual Report, 2012). Currently, in the local community of Orange County, Florida the infant mortality rate exceeds that of the US at 7.5, and the rate is also doubled in African American women at 13.5, wheres it is 5.6 for births by white women (Florida Charts, 2014). Per Florida Charts (2014), disorders related to short gestation (pre-term birth – less than 37 weeks of pregnancy) and low birth weight, followed by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are the leading causes of infant deaths in African American births in Orange County, which is relative to the rest of the

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome remains the leading cause of post-neonatal mortality (under the age of one) in developed countries. The causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome have been puzzling and research is being conducted to solve this catastrophic problem. Having a child under the age of one makes me very concerned, along with any other parent(s), that the possibility of SIDS could affect any infant at anytime, SIDS does not discriminate. I am seeking to find the possible causes to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome so in the future deaths could be avoided.

42). The cause of SIDS is still unknown but autopsies have been reliable in showing consistent findings pathologically that reveal whether a child has pulmonary edema or intrathoracic hemorrhages that could possibly confirm a diagnosis. Autopsies should be done in every infant and the results should be shared with the parents as soon as they are completed (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2016, p. 476).

     When putting it all together the number of lives births each year, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in the United States among infants between one month and one year of age and second only to congenital anomalies as the leading overall cause of death for all infants less than one year of age.

However, although there is no known cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, doctors have found factors that can increase a babies chance of passing away from SIDS. Babies born prematurely, or babies with a low birth weight have a higher chance of passing away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Other factors that can increase a babies chance of dying from SIDS are babies sleeping on their stomach, sleeping on a stiff surface, or overheating are all things that could affect your baby. Scientists have also found things you could do to decrease a babies chance of passing away from SIDS, infants that were breastfed have a 60% lower chance of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Iowa SIDS Foundation also provides different links to products you can buy that ensure your baby is safe while

increase's an infant's risk for SIDS, but the cause of such unexplained deaths is still unknown.

For the year of 2010, there were approximately 3,610 deaths for every 1,000 births which is a total of 15 percent of all SIDS deaths in infants (Child Health USA. SIDS/SUID. 2013). In 2009, the deaths of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome were much higher for infants that are American Indian/Alaskan Native and African American infants. These deaths are twice as high than infants that are Caucasian. In total, about 38 percent of infants that died from SIDS were American Indian/Alaskan Native and African American. About 14 percent of infants that died from SIDS were Caucasian. Doctors and scientists are still wondering why the death rate is higher in this particular ethnic group, but, they believe that these infants are sleeping in the same bed as their parents and not in a crib (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020 Topics and Objectives: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health. 2013). However, SIDS related deaths have been declining since 2001, but still remain moderate and stable

However, multiple risk factors are thought to increase the risk of an infant dying from SIDS. The textbook Essentials of Human Diseases and Conditions describes many of these contributing elements, such as, “smoking and drug abuse during the pregnancy, poor prenatal care, exposure of the infant to secondhand smoke, prematurity, recent upper respiratory tract infection in the infant, sleeping in the prone position, and a sibling with apnea”. Others in the medical field believe that there are genetic anomalies that can create a disposition to SIDS in an infant. One such individual is Debra Wood, R.N at the NYU-Langone Medical Center. In her article on SIDS, she proposes multiple genomic irregularities that could play a part in the eventual diagnosis of this disorder: “abnormalities in a section of the brain that controls breathing during sleep and waking, abnormalities in the control of heart rhythm, changes in how serotonin (a neurotransmitter) functions in the brain, changes in some components of the immune system, inadequate arousal response to breathing obstruction or asphyxia—a lack of oxygen or excess carbon dioxide in the body caused by interruption of breathing; may cause unconsciousness”. The Ohio Department of Health lists multiple maternal factors that are deemed important : placental abnormalities, low weight gain during pregnancy, anemia and a history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) or urinary tract infection (UTI). Environmental factors to be noted

SIDS is something that scares every new parent, but what terrifies parents even more is that no one knows what causes sudden infant death syndrome. There are ways that people could reduce the risk of SIDS but it won’t guarantee that it won’t happen. Babies are to be placed on their back while sleeping and never to be facing down towards the blankets or on their sides. Another thing that is told to decrease the chances of SIDS is to take out any extra blankets or stuffed animals that many get in the babies face. As a first time parent I was very paranoid about SIDS because no can explain why this is happening to healthy babies, so for the first year I made sure that I did everything right. Than one day when my son was eight months old he stopped

Infants whose mothers smoked during their pregnancy are more likely to become victims of SIDS, something as simple as quitting smoking can potentially save your child’s life. Also, it is more prevalent in families where cigarette smoke is found in the home regularly (Caldwell, 1995). SIDS deaths do recur in families; the rate among siblings of babies who die of SIDS is four to seven times higher than that for those who Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 3 have never had an incidence (Valdes-Dapena,

SID, or Sudden Infant Death, has previously thought to be random. Recently a study has been published showing a link between a idiosyncratic genetic mutation that affects very few people and SID. SCN4A showed up in 4 of 278 babies whose death was caused by SID. The mutation is rare and could possibly contribute to SID.

The cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been poorly understood for years. The definition of sudden infant death syndrome is “the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age that cannot be explained following a thorough investigation”. To better understand the cause, and to predict those at risk, researchers are studying the brain tissue of infants that have passed away from SIDS. Identifying the cause could lead to prevention strategies.

Infants born from mothers that smoked are three times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a condition in which babies who appears healthy die suddenly while sleeping, as are babies whose mothers do not smoke during pregnancy. This is also a point of contention between researchers as well. "Children born to mothers who smoked while pregnant, and possibly children whose grandmothers smoked while pregnant, have a higher risk of developing childhood asthma (Child)." Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to be born with birth defects such as cleft lip or palate and to have low birth weight.