Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Possible Cause

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) takes the lives of countless babies each year and until just recently, no one was sure exactly what caused SIDS. SIDS researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, however, think they may have found the cause... a brain stem abnormality.

    "The brain stem abnormalities involve an imbalance in the way the brain uses the neurotransmitter serotonin. The brain chemical plays a role in regulating mood and is the target for many depression-fighting drugs. But it also influences breathing, body temperature and arousal from sleep.

    These functions are thought to go haywire when susceptible babies are exposed to certain risks, such as sleeping on their bellies, which is a leading contributor to SIDS. 

    The researchers studied autopsied brain tissue from 31 SIDS babies and 10 infants who died of other causes. SIDS babies had about double the number of nerve cells displaying serotonin defects."

As of now, they are only able to tell if the baby has the abnormality after death, but they do hope to have an accurate test for use on living infants available in the next 10 years. While that is still quite a ways off, it does bring hope that SIDS may be ending it's reign as the number one killer of infants between the ages of one month and one year, as well as an end to the guilt parents feel after having lost a child to SIDS.

Until further research is performed and an effective test is available, following the SIDS precautions (listed below) is the single best way to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

    *Place baby on his or her back to sleep

    *Keep the baby away from smoke (and don't smoke during pregnancy)

    *Only allow baby to sleep on firm, flat surfaces (this means on sheets that fit the crib and without a pile of toys)

    *Avoid overheating/dressing baby.

    *Sleep near the baby.

    *Offer a pacifier

    *Stay away from products that say they reduce SIDS (they've not been properly tested)

I am thrilled that they may have found a cure. My sister had 2 preemies and bringing them home from the NICU was terrifying. Not only did we have to worry about the preemie problems, we were terrified of SIDS. They pumped us full of information on SIDS before we left the NICU and it was incredibly frightening. Her oldest wasn't sent home on an apnea monitor, even though he'd been having apnea spells a few times a day since birth, so sis slept with him right beside her for months and was terrified that he would stop breathing during the night. Aloshua was sent home on a monitor, but that didn't ease our minds any. He is now on a ventilator, but I still worry about him and Kaia when they are napping (even though they are both over a year old now). I imagine most parents feel the same way. It would be great to know beforehand if your child was at risk.

Article on Research can be found at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/31/sids.research.ap/index.html 

SIDS Precautions List at:
http://sids-network.org/risk.htm