Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the most frequent cause of death between 1 month and 1 year of age (Naeye). SIDS is defined as the sudden death of any infant or young child that is unexpected by it’s history, and in which a thorough postmortem examination fails to determine an adequate cause (Hunt 1987). It is important to consider both aspects of this definition in order not to ‘overdiagnose’ SIDS. A mistake of this nature would occur with failure to report a previous history of seizures, or if at the time of the autopsy a differentiation between suffocation due to rebreathing and SIDS was not made (Kemp 1993). One of the major characteristics of SIDS is that of ‘silent death’, which occurs during a sleep period. The majority of SIDS cases are between 1-6 months, with the peak occurrence being between 2-4 months. Boys are affected more often than girls (Becker, 1990).

Although there are many theories in regards to the cause of SIDS, the principle cause has not as yet been identified. Most researchers attribute the underlying mechanism of death to acute respiratory insufficiency occurring predominantly during sleep. Due to the lack of evidence of lung or heart abnormalities, recent studies have focused on the theory of a dysfunction of the neural control of respiration and cardiac function (Becker, 1990). There are currently several branches in this area of research. In this paper I will introduce the involvement and validity of brainstem abnormalities, neurotransmitters, and neural maturational delays.

During infancy (2-8 months), respiratory control is almost entirely dependent on brain stem control (Naeye). Due to the fact that this is also the peak time for SIDS, the hypothesis ...

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...nfant Death Syndrome 1987 Perspective. The Journal of Pediatrics. May 1987; 110(5): 669-678.

Kemp, J. S. et al. Unintentional Suffocation by Rebreathing: A Death Scene and Physiologic Investigation of a Possible Cause of Sudden Infant Death. Journal of Pediatrics. 1993;122:874-880.

Kinney, H. C. Delayed Central Nervous System Mvelination in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. January 1991; 50(1):29-48.

Kopp, N. et al. Ontogeny of Peptides in Human Hypothalamus in Relation to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS. Progress in Brain Research. 1992;93: 167-185.

Lagercrantz, H. and M. Runold. Hypoxemia and Neuropharmacoloay of Breathing. Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1991.

Naeye, R. L. New Brain Stem and Bone Marrow Abnormalities in Victims of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Journal of Perinatology. 9(2):180-183.

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