Sudden infant death syndrome

— It is a condition that occurs when

an infant stops breathing usually
during the night and suddenly dies
without any apparent cause
— 13% of all infant death are due to
SIDS
— The sudden cause of death is not
known but attributed to respiratory
or cardiac failure
— The risk is between 10 to 12
weeks of age
— Some infants who are at risk
are
— Low birth weight infants are5
to 10 times more
— likely to die of SIDS
— Twins and triplets even at
normal birth weight
— Infants whose siblings have
died of SIDS are 2 to 4 times as likely
to die of it
— 6% of infants with sleep apnea-
a temporary stopping of breathing in
which airway is completely blocked
for 10 seconds or longer die of SIDS
— More common in lower socio
economic group
— Infants who are passively
exposed to cigarette smoke
— Place the infant on its back and
not on its side or on the stomach it
will obstruct breathing