Sudden Infant Death
The topic
I would like to learn more about was Sudden infant death syndrome (also known
as SIDS). SID is defined as the abrupt or an
unexpected death of an infant younger than 1 year of age. I wanted to know what
causes it and how we as parents can prevent it.
I cannot imagine how parents feel to lose a child to unexplainable
death. A
sudden death of an infant can be hard on a parent along with any adults who is
assuming responsibility of the infant. Most SIDS death occurs in a normal healthy
infant, mostly younger than 6 months of age, in which the infant has died
following a period of long sleeping. Teen moms are
more likely than moms over 20 to have a child die of SIDS. One article I read
stated that the baby feeding routine is usually normal prior to them going to
sleep. The cause of SIDS death still as
of today remains a mystery despite a careful review of the medical history,
scene investigation, and autopsy. In most studies SIDS is uncommonly find during
the first month of the infant life. Infants
who are at risk are among the ages 2-4 months and then it declines. Studies
have reported that 90% of SIDS deaths occur in infants younger than 6 months of
age. Even though there has been a tremendously
decrease in the occurrence of SIDS in the United States and worldwide in recent
years. Studies have shown that SIDS
still is the number one leading causes of death during infancy past the first
30 days after their birth. It has been said that SIDS can be results of multiple
interacting factors. One factor is Infant
development in which is defined as when hypothesis occurs leading to SIDS
may reflect a delay or abnormality in the development of nerve cells within the
brain that are critical to normal heart and lung function. Another factor that
may cause SIDS is Rebreathing stresses: this occurs when a baby is place
facedown, in which may cause air movement around the mouth to be weaken. This
can cause the baby to re-breathe carbon dioxide that the baby has just exhaled.
Hyperthermia
(increased temperature): may also be the cause of SIDS in
infants, this is when we as parents/caregivers are overdressing, using to much coverings, or
rising the air temperature may lead to an increased metabolic rate in these
infants and eventual loss of breathing control. As we are aware apnea can be define as when a person’s breathing stops impulsively
when they are asleep. Studies have
suggested that infants who suffer with apnea can be controlled, by using a
technique called electronic monitors prescribed by doctors that track heart
rate and respiratory activity. Apnea monitors will not prevent SIDS. It has been proven by research that over 2,600 babies alone in the United States die of SIDS each
year. Another country that lead in SIDS death epidemic is New Zealand. New Zealand ranked number one with
the highest rate of recorded SIDS in the world! The article stated that babies live in New
Zealand are nearly twice as likely to die from SIDS as they are in America. Another article I researched stated, that
babies
born in Cuba, Malaysia, Portugal, and the United Kingdom have a better chance
of surviving SIDS death during the first month compared to those born in the United States
(Dellorto, 2011). While, some studies suggest
that prenatal care could be a leading problem among SIDS death in the Unites
states because prenatal care is not all created equal. There are areas of the
United States where access to prenatal and preventive care is a real problem. Finally, I really learn a lot of helpful
information on SIDS and even though there is no cause specific of SIDS death in infants. I have learned a lot of different strategies I can use to prevent the chances of my little ones from dying of this tragic death.
References
