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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS): Risk Factors |
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Several factors have been
identified that increase an infant’s risk for SIDS.
Risk Factors for SIDS
- Tummy (prone) or side sleeping
Infants who are put to sleep on their tummy or side are more likely
to die from SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.
- Soft sleep surfaces
Sleeping on a waterbed, couch, sofa, or pillows, or sleeping with
stuffed toys has been associated with an increased risk for SIDS.
- Loose bedding
Sleeping with pillows or loose bedding such as comforters, quilts,
and blankets increases an infants risk for SIDS.
- Overheating
Infants who overheat because they are overdressed, have too many
blankets on, or are in a room that is too hot are at a higher risk
of SIDS.
- Smoking
Infants born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at increased
risk of SIDS. Also, infants exposed to smoke at home or at daycare are
more likely to die from SIDS.
- Bed sharing
The safest place for an
infant to sleep is in their own crib or other separate safe sleep
surface next to the parent or caregiver’s bed.
- Preterm and low birth weight infants
Infants born premature or low birth weight are more likely to
die from SIDS.
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID)
Sudden, unexplained infant deaths are defined as deaths for which the
cause of death is unknown. These deaths may be still under (or needing
further) investigation or they may have completed a thorough
investigation and determined the death to be SIDS. When first
discovered, many infant deaths do not have an obvious cause. These
sudden, unexplained (unexpected) infant deaths, which include
suffocation, poisoning, falls, SIDS, and others (see list below), may
not be easily distinguishable from one another. None is due to a chronic
disease or illness and none is explainable without a more careful
examination.
For a medical examiner or coroner to determine the cause of the
death, an investigator(s) needs to conduct a thorough investigation
including examination of the death scene and a review of the infant’s
clinical history. A complete autopsy needs to be performed ideally using
information the investigator has gathered. Even when a thorough
investigation is conducted, it may be difficult to separate SIDS from
other types of sudden, unexplained infant deaths. After the cause of
death has been determined, infant deaths that were initially classified
as sudden, unexplained infant death can be referred to as sudden,
unexpected infant deaths since they are no longer unexplained deaths.
What are causes of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID)?
- Accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed
(e.g., the infant suffocates while trapped between an adult bed frame and
the wall)
- Other accidental suffocation or strangulation
(e.g., the infant suffocates by a plastic bag)
- Accidental poisoning
(e.g., the infant eats some adult aspirin that were left on a coffee
table)
- Obstruction of respiratory tract
(e.g., the infant chokes on a coin, food, or other object)
- Accidental falls
(e.g., the infant falls down the stairs)
- Neglect, abandonment and other maltreatment syndromes
(e.g., the infant dies after being left alone for a period of time)
- Assault and homicide
(e.g., the infant dies after someone harms them on purpose)
- Other symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings
not elsewhere classified
(e.g., the infant dies of unknown cause, or unexplained heart or breathing
failure)
SUIDI Reporting Form
The SUIDI reporting form is a guide for novice and veteran investigators
of infant deaths. The form is designed to ensure that all information is
collected in a consistent, sensitive manner. The form is designed as a
questionnaire ...more
Back-to-Sleep Campaign
SIDS Support and
Bereavement*
SIDS and Vaccination
Search PubMed for articles on SIDS
This search is being conducted on PubMed an NLM/NIH service.
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Page last reviewed: 3/15/08
Page last modified: 3/15/08
Content source:
Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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