Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death or crib death, is the sudden unexplained death of a child of less than one year of age.

SIDS remains the leading cause of infant death in many developed countries. There are around 2,700 babies who die from cot death every year in the US – and around 300 in the UK.

Cot death occurs when a seemingly healthy infant – under 12 months of age – dies in their sleep with no cause of death established in a post-mortem investigation. Although many risk factors are known to increase the risk of cot death – such as maternal smoking and bed sharing – nobody is exactly sure why it happens.

The incidence of SIDS is higher in male infants as compared with female infants, with a ratio of 60 male deaths to 40 female deaths.

Contents

The allostasis hypothesis

Allostasis is defined as "the process of achieving equilibrium through fluctuating neuroendocrine responses to physical and psychological stressors." Professor Eran Elhaik (2016) has developed a hypothesis, based on allopathic (stress) load that may explain the cause of SIDS.

See also

• Circumcision risks: Post-operative risks A-Z

External links

• Ehaik, Eran (11 January 2019). Neonatal circumcision could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in babies – new research, /theconversation.com/, The Conversation. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

• (11 January 2019). Circumcision linked to SIDS, Doctors Opposing Circumcision. Retrieved 4 July 2020.