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sudden infant death syndrome
(redirected from Sudden Infant Death)

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.13 sec.
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death, sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age (usually between two weeks and eight months old). SIDS accounts for 10% of infant deaths and is the second highest cause of death (after accidents) in infancy. The risk is higher in males, in low-birth-weight infants, in lower socioeconomic levels, during cold months, and for babies who sleep face down.

Causal theories suggest that the infant may have immature or hypersensitive lungs, may have a defect in brain-stem control of breathing, or may be rebreathing carbon dioxide. Recent studies have shown persistent high levels of an infant form of hemoglobin hemoglobin (hē`məglō'bĭn)
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 in babies with known risk factors for the condition.

SIDS victims are thought to have brief episodes of apnea (breathing stoppage) before the fatal one. An alarm system that detects breathing abnormalities is sometimes used with infants suspected of being prone to SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that babies be laid to sleep on their backs or sides.


sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

 or crib death

Unexpected death of an apparently well infant. It occurs almost always during sleep at night and usually at 2–4 months of age. Sleeping facedown and exposure to cigarette smoke have been implicated. It is more common in cases of premature birth, low birth weight, and poor prenatal care. Many cases that would once have been labeled SIDS prove to be due to suffocation in bedding or overheating. Some babies who die of SIDS have been found to have brain stem abnormalities that interfere with their response to high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.



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Infants and children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, acute lower respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma attacks.
Although much progress had been made (eg the decrease in infant mortality rates over the last decades), child health concerns remained, in particular significant and worsening disparities between rich and poor, Maori and Pacific and European populations; static breast-feeding rates; the slowed fall in sudden infant death syndrome rates; more referrals for child protection; and poor identification of postnatal depression (PND).
Although the psychosocial effects of bed sharing have been investigated, (8-10) the majority of investigations have focused on physical risks, particularly in regards to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
 
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