Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

3 Pages 726 Words

When a parent loses a child, the thought alone is indescribable. The death leaves a permanent hole in the heart of the family. To have a child die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (also known as S.I.D.S.) is sometimes actually defined as indescribable – words can never be enough to explain away the pain.
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and the review of the child’s medical history. Most cases of SIDS occur when a baby is asleep in their crib; therefore SIDS is also known as “crib death.” SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning, SIDS is said to be the cause of death, when there is no other explanation.
Age and race have a great impact on the chances of an infant dying of SIDS. The leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age is SIDS. Although, most cases occur between 1 and 4 months. African American babies are two to three times more susceptible to die of SIDS than a Caucasian baby. While Native American babies are almost three times more likely to die of SIDS. Also, more SIDS victims are boys than girls.
So many things can be a factor in a SIDS death. One of the most commonly thought of is, sleeping on their stomach, also known as ‘prone sleeping’. It is recommended to lay your baby in a non-prone position, as in their back, or side. A mother who smokes raises her child’s susceptibility of SIDS three times more than other infants. Another large risk factor, is mothers who are under the age of 20 at the time of their first pregnancy, and low birth rates.
Tests have revealed that many SIDS victims have abnormalities in the “arcuate nucleus,” a portion in the brain that is likely involved in controlling breathing, and waking during sleep. It may stem from exposure to a toxic substance, or a lack of sufficient oxygen before the...