As the name implies, SIDS is the sudden and unexplained
death of an infant who is younger than 1 year old. It's a frightening prospect
because it can strike without warning, usually in seemingly healthy babies.
Most SIDS deaths are associated with sleep (hence the common reference to
"crib death") and infants who die of SIDS show no signs of suffering.
While most conditions or diseases usually are diagnosed by
the presence of specific symptoms, most SIDS diagnoses come only after all
other possible causes of death have been ruled out through a review of the
infant's medical history, sleeping environment, and autopsy. This review helps
distinguish true SIDS deaths from those resulting from accidents, abuse, and
previously undiagnosed conditions, such as cardiac or metabolic disorders.
When considering which babies could be most at risk, no
single risk factor is likely to be sufficient to cause a SIDS death. Rather,
several risk factors combined may contribute to cause an at-risk infant to die
of SIDS.
Most deaths due to SIDS occur between 2 and 4 months of age,
and incidence increases during cold weather. African-American infants are twice
as likely and Native American infants are about three times more likely to die
of SIDS than caucasian infants. More boys than girls fall victim to SIDS.
Other potential risk factors include:
- smoking, drinking, or drug use during pregnancy
- poor prenatal care
- prematurity or low birth weight
- mothers younger than 20
- tobacco smoke exposure following birth
- overheating from excessive sleepwear and bedding
- stomach sleeping
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