Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Abstract

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.

Researchers have studied the many possible causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and four have been selected for this paper.

The first study addressed the effects of an infant’s sleeping position and other prenatal risks associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The SIDS victims were matched with four control groups of the same gender, age and place of birth.

The second study researched the possible correlation between the brain weights of SIDS victims at death to those infants that died of other causes, only when the brain had not been damaged. The study took place between the years of 1980 and 2003 within the same local population.

In the third study medical and demographic characteristics where analyzed among infants that were 24 to 32 week’s gestation weighing 500 to 2500 grams of SIDS victims and non SIDS victims. The researchers attempted to find a correlation between the two groups of preterm infants.

The fourth study was conducted to investigate a possible correlation between the postnatal growths preceding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In this particular study the victims of SIDS were matched with two controls of the same age. The research was collected by parental interview review of medical records and body weights.

Finally, I will review the findings, compare the four studies and illustrate my conclusions and provide my personal synthesis. I hope to gain knowledge and insight into the possible causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

First Study Summary

SIDS and Sleeping Position and Prenatal Care

Oyen, N., Markestad, T., Skaerven, R., Irgens, L.M., Helweh-Larsen, K., Alm, B., Norvenius, G., Wennergren, G. (1998). Combined Effects of Sleeping Position and Prenatal Risk Factors in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: The Nordic Epidemiological SI...

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... SIDS. Through the research provided, I concluded that when a baby is born preterm their brain, along with many other internal organs, is not as fully developed as that of an infant that had reached full gestation. I believe that these studies concerning SIDS address only a small portion of the larger problem and that there needs to be more research done to narrow down the causes.

References

Brooks, J.G., Gilbert, R.E., Flemming, P.J., Berry, P.J., Golding, J. (1996). Postnatal Growth Preceding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Journal of Chiropractic Technique, 94, 456-459.

Kadhim, Hazim., (2005). Incongruent Cerebral Growth in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Journal of Child Neurology, 20, 244-246.

Malloy, Michael H. (2004). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome among Extremely Preterm Infants: United States 1997 – 1999. Journal of Perinatology, 24, 181-187.

Oyen, N., Markestad, T., Skaerven, R., Irgens, L.M., Helweh-Larsen, K., Alm, B., Norvenius, G., Wennergren, G. (1998). Combined Effects of Sleeping Position and Prenatal Risk Factors in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: The Nordic Epidemiological SIDS Study. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, 21, 614-621.