0
May 1970, Vol 119, No. 5 >
Article | May 1970

Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Syndrome FREE

Edward B. Shaw, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Received for publication Oct 1, 1969.

Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco 94122 (Dr. Shaw).


Am J Dis Child. 1970;119(5):416-418. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1970.02100050418006.
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References
Comments

Sudden unexpected death (SUD) occurs annually in the United States in more than 15,000 infants less than 6 months old—the greatest mortality during the first year after the neonatal period. These deaths are not only unexpected but mostly unexplained, and most of the hypotheses proposed for causation have been disproved. A previous communication reported 28 instances among 18,000 infants who were under regular supervision; additional cases may simply not have been retrieved. Almost all of these were diagnosed at autopsy as interstitial pneumonia with findings indicating asphyxia. It is hypothesized that these deaths occur in those infants (30%±) who are unable to breathe through their mouths and who make violent spasmodic efforts to establish a nasal airway. The resemblance to neonatal deaths of infants with choanal atresia strongly supports this hypothesis.

REFERENCES

1 +
Shaw EB:  Sudden unexpected death in infancy syndrome . Amer J Dis Child 116:115-119, 1968;.
2 +
Harris, LS, Adelson L:  "Spinal injury" and sudden infant death: A second look . Amer J Clin Path 52:289-295, 1969;.
3 +
Geertinger P: Sudden Death in Infancy , American Lecture Series 704. Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1968;.
4 +
Ellis HA, Knight B:  Parathyroids and cervical thymus in sudden unexpected death in infancy . Pediatrics 44:225-233, 1969;.
5 +
Beckwith JB, Bergman AB:  The sudden death syndrome in infancy . Hosp Practice 2:44-52, 1967;.
6 +
Stimer R, Adelson L, Oseasogn R:  Epidemiologic features of 1,134 sudden unexpected infant deaths . JAMA 209:1493-1497, 1965;.
7 +
Moss MZ:  Veleopiglottic sphincter and obligate nose breathing in the neonate . J Pediat 67:330-331, 1965;.
8 +
Beinfield HH:  Ways and means to reduce infant mortality due to suffocation: Importance of choanal atresia . JAMA 170: 647-650, 1959;.
9 +
Ingall M, Glaser J, Meltzer RS, et al:  Allergic rhinitis in early infancy . Pediatrics 35:108-112, 1965;.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Shaw EB:  Sudden unexpected death in infancy syndrome . Amer J Dis Child 116:115-119, 1968;.
2 +
Harris, LS, Adelson L:  "Spinal injury" and sudden infant death: A second look . Amer J Clin Path 52:289-295, 1969;.
3 +
Geertinger P: Sudden Death in Infancy , American Lecture Series 704. Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1968;.
4 +
Ellis HA, Knight B:  Parathyroids and cervical thymus in sudden unexpected death in infancy . Pediatrics 44:225-233, 1969;.
5 +
Beckwith JB, Bergman AB:  The sudden death syndrome in infancy . Hosp Practice 2:44-52, 1967;.
6 +
Stimer R, Adelson L, Oseasogn R:  Epidemiologic features of 1,134 sudden unexpected infant deaths . JAMA 209:1493-1497, 1965;.
7 +
Moss MZ:  Veleopiglottic sphincter and obligate nose breathing in the neonate . J Pediat 67:330-331, 1965;.
8 +
Beinfield HH:  Ways and means to reduce infant mortality due to suffocation: Importance of choanal atresia . JAMA 170: 647-650, 1959;.
9 +
Ingall M, Glaser J, Meltzer RS, et al:  Allergic rhinitis in early infancy . Pediatrics 35:108-112, 1965;.

Correspondence

Submit a Letter
CME
Accreditation Information
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Clear Answers | Save For Later
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
Commitment to Change (optional):
Indicate what change(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
Your quiz results:
The filled radio buttons indicate your responses. The preferred responses are highlighted
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Comment

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2013 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems