Child death in a dream. Concept and causes of sudden infant death syndrome: up to what age is there a risk

What mother doesn't listen to her baby's breathing while he sleeps in his crib? After all, just the thought that the baby might not wake up in the morning makes her heart clench with fear. What is the reason? It's all about sudden infant death syndrome, which almost every mother has heard about. Lack of information and little knowledge of this condition give rise to misconceptions. Let's figure out what “death in the cradle” is.

The sudden and unexpected death of a child for no apparent reason is given the horrifying name of “cradle death.” In this case, the child’s body must undergo a pathological examination. If during the autopsy no objective causes of death are identified, then they speak of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Sudden death can occur in absolutely any child and anywhere. No matter how scary it may sound, it happens that a child dies in a stroller while walking, in a car, or even in the arms of his mother. However, most often they are found dead in their crib.

How to reduce the risk?

Although the causes of cot death remain a mystery, there are certain rules that parents can follow to reduce the risk.

Baby's sleeping position. It is necessary from the very beginning to put the child to sleep on his back, since sleeping on his side is unsafe for him. Research has shown that babies who sleep on their stomachs are 9 times more likely to die suddenly than those who sleep on their backs.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden death in the baby. Ideally, if neither parent smokes. Under no circumstances should you smoke in any apartment, much less in the same room as your child! Parents who smoke should not take their child into their bed.
Temperature regime. A child, wrapped in blankets and warm clothes, overheats very easily. It is considered normal if the hands and feet of a child (as well as an adult) are slightly cool. There is no need to create warmer conditions for it; It is quite enough to maintain a temperature of 18 0 C in the room where the child plays and sleeps.
Covering the baby's head. Lying in the crib, the baby should almost touch the back of the crib with his legs. The use of a pillow is not recommended until the child reaches 12 months of age. The crib should be covered with a sheet, and the child, if necessary, covered with blankets in several layers.
Seeking medical help if the child’s condition worsens. Weak children need to be given more fluids and their temperature should be constantly monitored so that they do not overheat. The health of children must be monitored very carefully, because it can be difficult to immediately determine that a child has a serious illness.

SIDS (or SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome, or “death in the crib”, in foreign medicine - SIDS) is the unexpected causeless death of a child aged from a week to a year. The origin of the syndrome is not fully understood, but most doctors consider it to be the result of apnea (stopping breathing) and heart rhythm disturbances. The most susceptible to SIDS are boys (about 60%) under the age of seven months (“peak” occurs at 2-4 months). Most often, sudden death occurs at night or in the morning, during the cold season.

How common is SIDS?

According to statistics, the SIDS rate in developed countries ranges from 0.2 to 1.5 cases per 1000 newborns (for example, in 1999: in Germany - 0.78, USA - 0.77, Russia (data for St. Petersburg) - 0.43, Sweden - 0.45). Following an information campaign to reduce the risk of SIDS in England and Sweden, rates fell by 70% and 33% respectively.
According to the World Health Organization, SIDS is one of the three leading causes of death in children in the first year of life (along with congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions) - it accounts for up to 30% of infant mortality in different countries.

In what cases is SIDS diagnosed?

Doctors speak about sudden infant death syndrome only after a thorough investigation of all the circumstances of the child’s death, during which any possible pathologies are consistently excluded. When neither a post-mortem examination nor a thorough analysis of the child's developmental history explains the reasons for his sudden death, a diagnosis of SIDS is made. Special statistical studies of all circumstances accompanying SIDS are carried out, and risk factors are identified.

What are the main risk factors for SIDS?

According to statistics, the main risk factors include: overheating and poor ventilation of the room, smoking in the child’s room, excessively tight swaddling, sleeping on the stomach, too soft a pillow and mattress. According to some pediatricians, the reason for the increase in the number of cases of SIDS - in the tummy position - actually lies in the soft pillow or mattress. They simply “pinch” the child’s nose, blocking his breathing. Therefore, the crib should have a hard, smooth mattress, and it is better to abandon the pillow altogether. But, one way or another, statistics clearly indicate that sleeping on the stomach significantly increases the risk of SIDS: in countries where, traditionally, or as a result of an information campaign, children are placed to sleep on their backs, the lowest percentage of cases of sudden death of babies is recorded.
Risk factors also include: prematurity and low birth weight of the child; young age of mother (up to 17 years); complicated, prolonged or premature; abortions; multiple births, especially with short time intervals.

What can cause SIDS?

Experts believe that most often this is the result of the immaturity of the infant’s neurohumoral system. During this period, children often experience apnea - temporary holding their breath; and if they occur more than once an hour and last longer than 10-15 seconds, you should immediately inform your pediatrician about it.

Another version of SIDS is disturbances in the baby’s cardiac activity: various types of arrhythmias, even short-term cardiac arrest; they can occur even in healthy children. In any such case, you should also immediately consult your pediatrician.

There is an increase in the number of sudden deaths of infants in the autumn-winter period. This may be due to an increase in the number of respiratory viral infections, or to a decrease in immunity and the need for increased strain on the adaptive reserves of the child’s body.

According to one hypothesis, the death of an infant may occur as a result of chronic psycho-emotional stress.
Does co-sleeping increase the risk of SIDS?
There is no clear opinion on this matter. Some doctors are inclined to believe that co-sleeping may increase the risk of SIDS - if it disrupts the baby's comfortable sleep. However, most pediatricians consider co-sleeping, on the contrary, a factor in the prevention of SIDS. After all, the child’s body is so sensitive that it synchronizes its own breathing and heartbeat with the breathing and heartbeat of the mother. In addition, the close proximity of the mother allows her to react as quickly as possible, for example, if the child stops breathing.

Is the risk of SIDS higher in dysfunctional families?

Since ill-being is primarily manifested in the lack of basic conditions for the life of a newborn, as well as in the mother’s addictions during pregnancy and lactation - smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, this, of course, increases the risk of SIDS. In addition, in such families the level of education and awareness of parents is extremely low, and there is a lack of basic knowledge and skills in caring for an infant. Such parents, as a rule, are inattentive to the baby’s health and may not notice any alarming symptoms.

What does “genetic predisposition to SIDS” mean?

If the baby’s siblings or his parents experienced causeless cardiac or respiratory arrest in infancy, and even more so if there have been cases of causeless infant death in the family, then such a child should be classified as a high-risk group.
Can SIDS be prevented?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely exclude the syndrome, since the exact causes that cause it have not yet been established, but it is possible and necessary to reduce the risk of SIDS. Competent, careful observation of a child by a pediatrician from birth can reveal health problems in the baby and his predisposition to SIDS at the earliest stages.

To monitor the child’s condition, there are special devices: respiratory monitors (or breathing monitors) and cardiorespiratory monitors (additionally responding to heart rhythm disturbances). Respiratory monitors are used more in the home; they are installed under the mattress of the crib and are equipped with a warning system.

What to do if the child stops breathing?

If the baby suddenly stops breathing, you should vigorously move your fingers from bottom to top along the spinal column, pick him up, stir him, massage his arms, feet, and earlobes. As a rule, these measures are enough to restore the child’s breathing. If this does not happen, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance, and before the doctors arrive, resort to emergency measures: perform a chest massage, artificial respiration.

It is necessary to know how to provide first aid in case of suffocation - after all, respiratory arrest can also occur due to foreign objects entering the child’s respiratory tract.

Description:

Sudden infant death syndrome, or “crib death” in foreign medicine – SIDS) is the unexpected causeless death of a child aged from a week to a year. The origin of the syndrome is not fully understood, but most doctors consider it to be the result of apnea (stopping breathing) and heart rhythm disturbances. The most susceptible to SIDS are boys (about 60%) under the age of seven months (“peak” occurs at 2-4 months). Most often, sudden death occurs at night or in the morning, during the cold season.
According to statistics, the SIDS rate in developed countries ranges from 0.2 to 1.5 cases per 1000 newborns (for example, in 1999: in Germany - 0.78, USA - 0.77, Russia (data for St. Petersburg) - 0.43, Sweden - 0.45). Following an information campaign to reduce the risk of SIDS in England and Sweden, rates fell by 70% and 33% respectively.
According to the World Health Organization, SIDS is one of the three leading causes of death in children in the first year of life (along with congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions) - it accounts for up to 30% of infant mortality in different countries.

Symptoms:

Causes:

According to statistics, the main risk factors include: overheating and poor ventilation of the room, smoking in the child’s room, excessively tight swaddling, sleeping on the stomach, too soft a pillow and mattress. According to some pediatricians, the reason for the increase in the number of cases of SIDS - in the tummy position - actually lies in the soft pillow or mattress. They simply “pinch” the child’s nose, blocking his breathing. Therefore, the crib should have a hard, smooth mattress, and it is better to abandon the pillow altogether. But, one way or another, statistics clearly indicate that sleeping on the stomach significantly increases the risk of SIDS: in countries where, traditionally, or as a result of an information campaign, children are placed to sleep on their backs, the lowest percentage of cases of sudden death of babies is recorded.
Risk factors also include: prematurity and low birth weight of the child; young age of mother (up to 17 years); complicated, prolonged or; abortions; multiple births, especially with short time intervals.
Experts believe that most often this is the result of the immaturity of the infant’s neurohumoral system. During this period, children often experience apnea - temporary holding their breath; and if they occur more than once an hour and last longer than 10-15 seconds, you should immediately inform your pediatrician about it.

Another version of SIDS is a violation of the infant’s cardiac activity: various types, even short-term; they can occur even in healthy children. In any such case, you should also immediately consult your pediatrician.

Treatment:

It is necessary to know how to provide first aid in case of suffocation - after all, respiratory arrest can also occur due to foreign objects entering the child’s respiratory tract.

What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is not a disease. Rather, it is a diagnosis made when a healthy child dies unexpectedly without any cause. If, after an autopsy, a detailed study of the location of the incident and the medical history of the child, doctors cannot determine the cause of death, they diagnose SIDS.

Such a death may be reported as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), death from unknown causes, or simply death in a crib. SIDS is not reported as the cause of death unless another cause is found, such as an accident, infection, or a previously undetected congenital disorder (genetic abnormality).

According to statistics in Russia, the SIDS rate per 1000 children born is 0.43. In 1991, the Infant Mortality Research Foundation launched a campaign to reduce the risk of SIDS, and cot deaths fell by 75%. But it still remains a common cause of death in children.

What is the cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

Nobody knows why some children die like this. Research is ongoing, and doctors believe a combination of factors is at play. It is believed that some children have problems in the part of the brain that is responsible for breathing and waking up, so they may react inappropriately to situations when, for example, their nose and mouth are covered with a blanket while sleeping.

When does death in the cradle occur?

Most often, but not always, cot death occurs during sleep. At night in a crib, or during daytime sleep - in a stroller or even in the arms of one of the parents. Crib death occurs more often in winter, although the reasons for this are not fully identified.

Which babies are at greatest risk for SIDS?

Death in the cradle is not common among infants less than one month old. It most often occurs in the second month of life and about 90% of cases occur in children under six months of age. The older the child, the lower the risk - after a year such cases are extremely rare.

For unknown reasons, this syndrome is not common in Asian families.

Most often, death in a crib occurs in families in which the mother was not yet 20 years old at the time of the birth of the child.

There are factors that put your baby at risk for SIDS that you can't do anything about. These factors include:

male sex - death in a crib is more common among boys: about 60% of cases occur in male children

premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)

birth with low body weight (less than 2.5 kg)

How can I reduce my baby's risk of SIDS?

Sadly, there is no way to prevent crib death. There are some measures you can take to try to reduce your risk of SIDS. The Ministry of Health recommends the following measures:

Place your baby to sleep on his back in his crib in your room

At five to six months of age, babies begin to roll over, and at this age the risk of developing SIDS decreases, so you can let your baby find a comfortable sleeping position on his own. But still, put him to sleep on his back and if you suddenly notice that the baby has turned over on his stomach in his sleep, turn him back onto his back, although, of course, you should not deliberately wake up at night and check how the baby is sleeping.

Do not smoke during pregnancy and do not allow anyone to smoke in the presence of the baby. If you smoke during pregnancy or after giving birth, your baby's risk of developing SIDS increases. Cot deaths are more common in families where mothers smoked, were exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy, or smoked in the presence of children. One study confirms that if pregnant women did not smoke, cot deaths would be reduced by 40%.

Do not smoke during pregnancy and do not allow others to smoke in the presence of the baby, even in an adjacent room with an open window, fan and air ionizer. Ask guests to go outside to smoke and keep the air around your child free of tobacco smoke.

Don't let your baby overheat

Overheating also increases the risk of SIDS. Maintain a comfortable temperature in the room where the child sleeps (between 16 and 20 C, ideally 18 C). Children should not sleep near a radiator, heater or fireplace, or in direct sunlight. Do not use a hot water bottle or thermal blanket for heating.

Place the baby in the crib so that his legs rest against the side of the bed and he cannot slide down and cover his head with the blanket. Tuck the blanket no higher than shoulder level. If you use a sleeping bag, make sure it fits properly so your baby can't slide down inside it.

Signs that your baby is overheating include sweaty damp hair, heat rash, rapid breathing, fussiness and fever. Feel your baby's belly or neck to check if he's cold or hot and select the appropriate blanket. You should not touch the arms and legs for this purpose - they can be cold, even if the baby is warm.

After returning from a walk, immediately remove any additional clothing from your baby, even if this means waking up your baby.

Never sleep on a sofa or chair with a child

After rocking or feeding, place your baby in the crib. The safest place for a baby under six months to sleep is in a crib in your room.

Let your baby sleep on a smooth, firm mattress that matches the size of the crib. Waterbeds, ottomans and the like are not suitable places for children to sleep. The mattress upholstery should be waterproof and covered with a single layer of sheets.

For bedding, use regular sheets and baby blankets or special sleeping bags, rather than duvets. The sleeping bag should not be too large so that the baby does not get entangled in it.

If your baby is hot, remove one blanket; if he is cold, add one (remember that a blanket folded in half equals two blankets). Do not use down or cotton duvets, as well as bed bolsters and pillows.

Breastfeed

Some recent studies have shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS. Breast milk provides your baby with all the nutrients he needs during the first six months of life and also protects the baby from infections.

Take your child to the doctor regularly

Keep up with vaccinations that reduce the risk of SIDS, and seek advice from your doctor if your baby gets sick.

What about daytime naps?

One recent study showed that it is important to follow advice about children's sleep safety not only at night, but also during the day. You should place the baby on his back and be sure that the baby is not covered with a blanket over his head while sleeping. This study also confirms the importance of having your baby in the same room as you during naps. A wicker cradle and a portable cradle are suitable for baby's daytime sleep, and you can go about your business.

What advice do you have regarding using a pacifier?

Some studies suggest that using a pacifier at bedtime (even during the day) reduces the risk of SIDS. One theory to explain this effect is that the pacifier circle helps air penetrate the baby's airways, even if he accidentally covers his head with a blanket. If you decide to use a pacifier, wait until breastfeeding has established itself, usually when your baby is one month old. Gradually wean your baby off the pacifier between 6 and 12 months.

Don't worry if your baby's pacifier falls out of his mouth while he's sleeping. And don’t insist if the child doesn’t want a pacifier.

Can a baby sleep monitor help?

Healthy children do not need a breathing monitor. This is an electrical device that sounds an alarm if the baby's breathing is interrupted for a certain period of time. When using it, you may need to attach the sensor to the baby's body, place an ultrasonic transmitter or a special mat in the crib.

very tired

The risks associated with co-sleeping also increase if your baby:

born prematurely (before 37 weeks)

born with low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg)

What could be worse than the death of a child in the cradle? This is what people call sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Another name for it is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The English abbreviation is SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. SIDS is sudden death from respiratory arrest (apnea). Most often this happens at night or early in the morning, when the baby is alone in the crib.

An autopsy cannot determine the cause of death. Scientists around the world have been struggling with the mystery of infant mortality for many years - the term SIDS was coined back in 1969. Today we will talk about what they managed to find out.

Facts about sudden infant death

Collecting statistics on SVSM is quite difficult. However, available materials indicate that in various countries SIDS accounts for 3 to 10 infant deaths per 1000 children. In Russia, according to official statistics, 11 children out of 1000 do not live to see one year old. However, the exact number of deaths due to SIDS is unknown.

Sudden infant death is said to occur if it occurs for no apparent reason between the ages of one week and one year. Death in the first week of a child's life occurs from perinatal causes.

Most often, children aged 2-4 months die from sudden infant death. Presumably, this may be due to the fact that at this age the child can already turn onto his stomach on his own, but cannot roll over back or turn his head to the side if he begins to choke. Babies under 2 months are not able to roll over on their own; children over 4 months have a more pronounced instinct of self-preservation.

Boys are more susceptible to sudden death of a child than girls – approximately 1.5 times. The reasons for this are not exactly known - perhaps this statistic is associated with lower immunity in newborn boys.

Children with reduced immunity are more likely than others to die suddenly. This is understandable: immunity directly affects the child’s cardiac activity and breathing. That is why premature babies, children from multiple pregnancies and, of course, children of mothers with bad habits are at risk.

Sudden infant death syndrome is directly related to sleep position: about 70% of deaths occur while sleeping on the stomach. Overheating and hypothermia are also big risk factors for babies, with overheating being much more dangerous.

New developments in sudden child death research

There are two lines of research that may shed light on the causes of SIDS. The first is a study of insufficient production of serotonin, known as the hormone of happiness. In the bodies of the dead babies, the level of serotonin was critically low. Meanwhile, this hormone is involved in many physiological processes, including cardiorespiratory activity. The theory speaks of a lack of serotonin as a factor that destabilizes breathing and heart rhythms.

In September 2012, the results of another study on sudden infant death syndrome were published: the absence of the Atoh1 gene does not allow the body to automatically regulate breathing and respond to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. The experiment was carried out on a population of mice.

What should parents do if the child is not breathing?

Since many parents have heard about death in the cradle, it is not surprising that this topic is actively discussed among young mothers. It is much more important to discuss rumors to know the algorithm of actions that need to be taken if you discover that the child is not breathing. This could save his life! The sudden death of a child is diagnosed by doctors, but often breathing problems can be restored.

So, what should parents do while immediately calling an ambulance:

Check the child’s breathing (mouth and nose), chest movements;
Quickly assess the color of the skin and mucous membranes - when breathing stops they turn pale or blue;
Try to stir up the baby by massaging his hands, heels, and earlobes. Very often this is enough to restore breathing;
If the measures taken do not help, you need to make sure that there are no foreign objects in the baby’s throat and immediately begin artificial respiration until the doctors arrive.

Prevention of SIDS

Unfortunately, there are no ways to identify a child’s tendency to sudden death. Therefore, prevention of respiratory arrest is most important. First of all, this concerns sleeping on the stomach, which many pediatricians oppose. The line is thin - because in many other respects, sleeping on your stomach, on the contrary, is beneficial. You can choose a compromise solution - for example, lay the baby on its side, placing a lock that prevents it from turning over on its tummy in its sleep.

In no case should it be hot in the room where the child sleeps - on the contrary, the room should be ventilated before going to bed. If the air is too dry, you should use a humidifier to achieve optimal humidity.

Some researchers of sudden infant death point to a direct connection between the syndrome and the co-sleeping of the child and parents. However, there is no clear relationship here - in a number of countries where co-sleeping is considered the norm, SIDS statistics are just lower, and in other countries it’s the opposite. Most likely, the more important factor here will be parental caution. 4.9 out of 5 (27 votes)