SIDS is the abbreviated term for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Death of the infant occurs suddenly during sleep and it is a rare phenomenon. Infants from 2 months to one year can develop SIDS and the risk is high for 2-4 months baby. Death is almost sudden and unexpected without any obvious cause or health issue. Each parent should take precaution while putting the infant to sleep and check the atmosphere is completely safe for the baby. SIDS can be prevented fully by following certain guidelines like “Safe sleep strategy”.
Often, SIDS is detected only during investigation or after completing the autopsy. Sometimes the reason of death remains unexplained. In many cases there would not be any sign of illness or distress for the infant during death. Infant would be discovered without breathing and pulse after the regular wake-up time. More than 90% of deaths due to SIDS occur before 6 months of age in infants. SIDS is also known as crib death since most of the time the infants die in cribs.
Symptoms :
- Sudden infant death syndrome occurs due to lack of proper respiration during sleep. Babies die within seconds when the respiratory tract is blocked by soft things like blankets or cushioned pillows.
- Death occurs suddenly without any sign of illness during sleep.
- The baby stops breathing.
- SIDS or sudden death does not cause any symptoms. The death of the infant is discovered by the parent or caregiver realizes that the infant has not wake up for long.
- The baby remains lifeless on the crib without any movement.
Causes :
Lack of respiration or any obstruction in the process of respiration is the major cause for SIDS. In some cases physical factors like low birth weight or brain abnormalities (infants born with brain problems) and history of respiratory infection can cause SIDS. Babies who are put on to sleep on the stomach can have difficulty in breathing which can arrest their respiration within seconds. Sleeping on soft surface with face down can block the airway of the infant. In some cases the infant would cover the blanket on his head leading to suffocation and death.