Medical, Forensic and Social Quandaries of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Today

Tatiana Iov,Sofia Mihaela David,Diana Bulgaru-Iliescu,Cristina Furnică

doi:10.18662/brain/11.3sup1/118

Abstract

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is described as the sudden, unexplained death (with no attributable cause, during sleep) of a seemingly healthy child before reaching the first year of life. Statistically, SIDS is recognized today as a leading cause of death in infants aged 1 to 12 months. In the present article the authors have analyzed known risk factors, classifications and current standards of forensic investigation while highlighting the necessity of detailed clinical history, autopsy, scene of death examination and lab findings (radiology, metabolic anomalies, infectious diseases and toxicology) in SIDS diagnosis. For an infant death to be considered SIDS, all other possible causes of death must be first excluded, the diagnosis requiring detailed collection and analysis of antemortem patient data and a complete autopsy. Although the forensic methods of today are more exact, the distinction between SIDS and other causes of death (e.g. unintentional asphyxiation, infanticide) remains very difficult in some cases.

Highlights

During the Second International Conference of Sudden Infant Death held in 1969 in Seattle, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was defined as “the sudden death of any infant or young child which is unexpected by history, and in which a thorough post-mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death” (Krous et al, 2004)
- Approximatively 50% of ALTE cases happen during periods of wakefulness, while SIDS is known to appear during sleep (McGovern& Smith, 2004; Rini et al, 2016);
- ALTE is more common in infants of Asian descent while SIDS has a higher incidence in African American populations (Farrell et al, 2002);

Summary

Introduction

During the Second International Conference of Sudden Infant Death held in 1969 in Seattle, SIDS was defined as “the sudden death of any infant or young child which is unexpected by history, and in which a thorough post-mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death” (Krous et al, 2004). - No autopsy; The SIDS definition in use was established in 2004 in San Diego, California, and describes a sudden and unexpected death of an infant younger than 1 year, that takes place during sleep and remains without known cause after complete autopsy and analysis of patient history and circumstances of death.

Results

Conclusion