Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Subject: Science & Tech
Context- A team of Australian researchers have identified a biochemical marker in the blood that could help identify newborn babies at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Concept-
About SIDS:
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old.
- SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.
- In their study, babies who died of SIDS had lower levels of an enzyme called butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) shortly after birth, the researchers said.
- BChE plays a major role in the brain’s arousal pathway, and low levels would reduce a sleeping infant’s ability to wake up or respond to its environment.
What causes SIDS?
- The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but it’s thought to be down to a combination of factors.
- A combination of physical and sleep environmental factors can make an infant more vulnerable to SIDS. These factors vary from child to child.
- Physical factors:
- Brain defects: In many of the babies, the portion of the brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep hasn’t matured enough to work properly.
- Low birth weight. Premature birth or being part of a multiple birth increases the likelihood that a baby’s brain hasn’t matured completely, so he or she has less control over such automatic processes as breathing and heart rate.
- Respiratory infection. Many infants who died of SIDS had recently had a cold, which might contribute to breathing problems.
- Sleep environmental factors:
- The items in a baby’s crib and his or her sleeping position can combine with a baby’s physical problems to increase the risk of SIDS. Examples include:
- Sleeping on the stomach or side.
- Sleeping on a soft surface.
- Sharing a bed with parents, siblings or pets.
- Being too warm while sleeping can increase a baby’s risk of SIDS.
- Risk factors:
- Sex. Boys are slightly more likely to die of SIDS.
- Age. Infants are most vulnerable between the second and fourth months of life.
- Race. For reasons that aren’t well-understood, nonwhite infants are more likely to develop SIDS.
- Family history. Babies who’ve had siblings or cousins die of SIDS are at higher risk of SIDS.
- Secondhand smoke. Babies who live with smokers have a higher risk of SIDS.
- Being premature. Both being born early and having a low birth weight increase your baby’s chances of SIDS.
- Maternal risk factors Including mother younger than 20, Smokes cigarettes, Uses drugs or alcohol; Has inadequate prenatal care.
- The items in a baby’s crib and his or her sleeping position can combine with a baby’s physical problems to increase the risk of SIDS. Examples include:
