Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is typically associated with a period of sleep, and in most cases no signs of distress are apparent.
Some of the causes of SIDS include low birth weight, recent respiratory infection, side or stomach sleeping, sleeping on a soft surface, hyperthermia, and sleeping with parents. Research examination of the brain stems of babies who died of SIDS showed a delay in the development of serotonin-binding nerve cell pathways in the brain. Delayed development of these pathways could prevent the infant from arousing from sleep if the mouth and nose became obstructed during sleep.
Some risk factors include infants in the second and third months of life; being male; being black, American Indian, or Eskimo; babies who have had siblings or cousins die of SIDS; secondhand smoke; and being premature. Mothers also have risk factors that increase risk, including age younger than 20, cigarette smoking, drug and/or alcohol use, and inadequate prenatal care.
For our newsletter and blog this month we are reviewing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The blog topics for this month are:
- SIDS: Definition (11/6/15)
- SIDS: Risk Factors (11/13/15)
- SIDS: Physical Findings (11/20/15)
- SIDS: Considering Abuse (11/27/15)
Note: To see all posts in this topic, click here
