Episode Details

Episode 153: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.    

Future doctors Nisha and Afolabi explain the way to prevent sudden infant death syndrome and Dr. Arreaza adds comments about prevention through vaccines.  

Written by Selena Nisha, MS4; and Oluwatoni Afolabi, MS4. Ross University School of Medicine. Comments by Hector Arreaza, MD

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Today, we are going to talk about sudden infant death syndrome, also known by its acronym SIDS. This topic is a heavy one and it may be triggering for some parents or those who may personally know a family member affected by SIDS, so please refrain from listening to this podcast at any point you see fit. 

First and foremost, we tend to hear a lot about SIDS in the news or social media outlets that cover these tragic incidents, but let's define what exactly sudden infant death syndrome is. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the abrupt and unexplained death of an infant <1 year of age. It usually occurs during sleep; it is sometimes referred to as "crib death". According to the CDC, SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies between 1 month and 1 year of age in the United States. 

It occurs mostly between 1-3 months. 

Q: What causes SIDs? 

The exact cause of SIDS is unfortunately unknown. However, there are many studies that have identified several risk factors for SIDS and most of them are definitely preventable. 

• The most important risk factors for SIDS are related to the sleep position and the sleep environment of the baby. Babies placed to sleep on their side or their stomach are at increased risk for SIDs compared to babies placed to sleep on their back. In addition, bed-sharing is also strongly associated with increased risk for SIDs.
• Smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to tobacco. Second-hand smoking exposure is probably the most important risk factor for SIDS.
• Drug use or alcohol use during pregnancy
• Overdressing/overheating the baby
• Babies that are born premature and/or low birth weight
• Late or no prenatal care.

Q: Are there any ethnic or genetic components involved in SIDS? 

• Yes, there are. According to the CDC, African American, American Indian or Native Alaskan babies have a higher risk.
• Surprisingly, some studies have even shown an increase in SIDS in baby boys compared to baby girls and if a baby’s sibling had died of SIDS, that may be linked to a genetic disorder.
• Asian babies are less likely to suffer from SIDS, and African Americans are disproportionally affected by SIDS.

Interesting fact: Several people have been accused of killing their own babies and later forgiven because a diagnosis of SIDS was established after autopsy and extensive investigation. Some examples are: Kathleen Folbigg (Australia), Sally Clark (England), and Angela Cannings (UK).

Q: What are the clinical recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS that parents and caregivers should be aware of?

• It is important to know that although short episodes of tummy time are beneficial for the baby, we need to be sure to not put the baby to sleep on their belly or side. In fact, the incidence of SIDS has decreased more than 50% in the past 20 years, largely as a result of the “Back to Sleep” campaign in 1992 that recommended that babies be placed on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDs.
• When choosing a crib and mattress, make sure you pick a crib that is well