Read about causes of SIDS, reasons for Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome and what causes crib death.
Causes Of SIDS
Healthy infants, in the age group of one month to one
year, have been known to die quietly in their sleep, just like that.
There are no warning signs, no sickness, no crying or moaning that can
warn the parents of this shocking happening. This very syndrome of
sudden and unexpected death has been given a specific name i.e. Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is also known as Cot Death, in
countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, India and New
Zealand, and Crib Death in the United States.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome offers no particular explanations for the
death of an apparently healthy infant, while he/she is asleep, looking
so calm and angel-like. It is regarded as one of the most common causes
of death in newborns. In majority of the cases, SIDS strikes babies who
are two to six months old. The syndrome is most likely to occur in the
time period between twelve in the night to eight in the morning, when
parents are sleeping soundly. It hardly ever happens in babies who are
younger than two weeks or older than eight months.
Reasons For Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Though no definite causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome have been
identified till date, it is believed that infection in the respiratory
tract of the infact might be the reason behind it. Researches show that
many of the babies who have died of SIDS had been treated recently for
cold or other respiratory illnesses. At the same time, the seasons when
Crib Deaths were found to have occurred the most were winter and early
spring, when chances of respiratory infections are at their peaks.
Diagnosis
An infant is diagnosed to have been died from Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome when no explanation can be found for the fatality. In other
words, an infant death is believed to have occurred from SIDS, if and
when, even after an autopsy; investigation of the scene and
circumstances of the death; and exploration of the medical history of
the infant and family, no plausible reason can be found that could have
led to the loss.
Factors Contributing To SIDS
- Baby sleeping on tummy or on his/her side
- Family history of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Low family income, which makes a baby receive less care
- Lack of proper nutrition
- The age of the mother being less than 20, at the time of
pregnancy
- The mother receiving little or no prenatal care
- Smoking by the mother, during pregnancy
- Consumption of drugs by the mother, during pregnancy
- Premature birth of the baby
- Low weight of the baby at the time of the birth
- Baby being exposed to second hand smoking (when someone smokes
while they are around the baby)
