Sudden Unexpected Death In Infancy ✅

Question 1

What is sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) said to have taken place?

Answer 1

When an apparently healthy baby dies suddenly, unexpectedly and without an obvious cause identified prior to investigation

Question 2

How many cases of SUDI are there per year in the UK>

Answer 2

Around 300

Question 3

At what age is the peak incidence of SUDI?

Answer 3

2-4 months

Question 4

Is SUDI more common in boys or girls?

Answer 4

Boys

Question 5

At what time of year is SUDI more common?

Answer 5

Winter months

Question 6

Is an identified cause usually found in SUDI?

Answer 6

No, not found in majority of cases

Question 7

When found, what are the most common cause of SUDI?

Answer 7

• Infection
• Cardiovascular abnormalities
• Metabolic or genetic disorders
• Non-accidental injury

Question 8

What is done in all cases of SUDI?

Answer 8

Extensive investigation to determine underlying cause

Question 9

Why is it important to look for a possible diagnosis in SUDI?

Answer 9

• Can be of great help and comfort to parents

- Can help in future pregnancies, especially if opportunity for antenatal diagnostic testing

Question 10

What investigations must be carried out soon after death in SUDI?

Answer 10

• Blood and CSF samples

- Microbiological swabs

Question 11

Why must blood, CSF samples, and microbiology swabs be taken as soon as possible after death in SUDI?

Answer 11

Delay reduces yield of positive results

Question 12

What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

Answer 12

A cause of SUDI, which is defined as the sudden death of an infant which cannot be explained after thorough investigation, including a post-mortem and examination of scene of death

Question 13

What are the categories of risk factors of SIDS?

Answer 13

• Extrinsic factors

- Intrinsic factors

Question 14

What are extrinsic risk factors for SIDS?

Answer 14

• Prone sleeping position
• Exposure to tobacco smoke
• Co-sleeping
• Overheating
• Not breastfed

Question 15

What are the intrinsic risk factors for SIDS?

Answer 15

• Prematurity
• Low birth weight
• Low maternal age
• Male gender

Question 16

What physiological evidence supports the observation that putting in infant to sleep in the prone position increases the risk of SIDS?

Answer 16

Infants who sleep on their back have lower arousal thresholds and less slow-wave sleep compared with prone sleeping infants. This ‘deeper’ sleep may interfere with the infant’s physiological repsonse to overcome normally minor environmental triggers

Question 17

What further increases the risk of SIDS in infants who co-sleep?

Answer 17

If the co-sleeper has used alcohol or drugs

Question 18

What is the limitation of describing co-sleeping as a risk factor for SIDS?

Answer 18

A number of these deaths may actually be due to unintentional overlying rather than SIDS

Question 19

What can cause overheating in infants? -

Answer 19

• Elevated room temperature

- Wrapping in too many clothes and/or blankets

Question 20

What parental advice is given to reduce the risk of SIDS?

Answer 20

• ‘Back to sleep’ campaign
• Safe sleep environment
• Ambient room temperature of 16-20 degrees
• Dummies or pacifiers, if used consistently at nap or bed times
• Breastfeeding

Question 21

What does the ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign promote?

Answer 21

Positioning babies on their backs when sleeping, with their feet to the foot of the cot or crib

Question 22

Should babies share a room with their parents?

Answer 22

Yes, safest to sleep in the same room as parents for first 6 months of life

Question 23

Why is it safest to sleep in same room as parents for the first 6 months of life?

Answer 23

Possibly due to heightened awareness of the baby

Question 24

Does having one baby die from SIDS increase the risk in future babies?

Answer 24

Yes