die of SIDS in a year than all children who die of cancer, heart disease,.
pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy.
combined. During the eighties, SIDS accounted for approximately 7,000 deaths,.
but that number dropped below 3,000 by the late nineties. Unfortunately, this.
decrease can only be attributed to better overall health techniques and.
medical practices. As of yet, the main cause of death for infants around the.
world is still unknown. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as.
"Crib Death", is defined as the sudden death of an infant under one year of.
age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including.
performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review.
of the clinical history. SIDS occurs unexpectedly in infants one month to one.
year in age who seem healthy at the time. Ninety percent of deaths happen by.
the end of the sixth month, usually between two and four months, ninety-eight.
percent die before twelve months of age. A SIDS death occurs quickly with no.
signs of suffering and is often associated with sleep. More deaths are.
reported in the fall or winter, and there is a 60 percent to 40 percent male.
to female ratio. It is only diagnosed after all other alternatives have been.
eliminated; it is a diagnosis of exclusion. This sudden infants death leaves.
many unanswered questions resulting in intense grief for parents, families,.
and friends Medical personnel such as medical examiners and coroners must.
investigate SIDS, similar to any other sudden and unexplained death. There are.
three basic steps in the investigation of a SIDS death: the autopsy, the death.
scene investigation, and the review of victim and family case history. The.
autopsy is very important to exclude any other cause of death. Without an.
examination of all tissue and vital organs, a definitive diagnosis cannot be.
made. Also, if the cause of SIDS is ever to be discovered this will most.
