Professional Publications
American
Academy of Pediatrics
Latest recommendations regarding SIDS from the AAP.
Center
for Disease Control National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion
This site provides
information and statistics on SIDS including data analysis and death
scene investigation guidelines.
Guidelines for Death Scene Investigation of Sudden, Unexplained Infant Deaths: Recommendations of the Interagency Panel on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 21, 1996 / 45(RR-10);1-6
AAP
Says Home Apnea Monitors Should Not Be Prescribed Solely To Prevent
SIDS - Apnea, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Home Monitoring,
American Academy Of Pediatrics. Policy Statement
More than 25 years
have elapsed since continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring at home was
suggested to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
In the ensuing interval, multiple studies have been unable to establish
the alleged efficacy of its use. In this statement, the most recent research
information concerning extreme limits for a prolonged course of apnea
of prematurity is reviewed. Recommendations regarding the appropriate
use of home cardiorespiratory monitoring after hospital discharge emphasize
limiting use to specific clinical indications for a predetermined period,
using only monitors equipped with an event recorder, and counseling parents
that monitor use does not prevent sudden, unexpected death in all circumstances.
The continued implementation of proven SIDS prevention measures is encouraged.
Bed
Sharing with Siblings, Soft Bedding, Increase SIDS Risk
Infants who
share a bed with other children are at a higher risk of sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS) than are other infants, according to the most
recent analysis of a study of predominantly African American SIDS deaths
in
Chicago.
Most
Definitive Study of Its Kind Shows That Sleeping on the Stomach Increases
Infant SIDS Risk
Researchers have conducted the most definitive study of its kind to show
that sleeping on the stomach increases the risk of U.S. infants for Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Previously, researchers had relied largely
on overseas studies for making the recommendation that infants be placed
on the back to sleep in order to reduce their risk for SIDS.
Latest
studies confirm increased risk for infants who sleep face down.
See recent study published in the April 2003 Pediatrics, Occurrence and
Mechanisms of Sudden Oxygen Desaturation in Infants Who Sleep Face
Down Aloka L. Patel, MD, Dorota Paluszynska, MD, Kathleen A. Harris
and Bradley T. Thach, MD From the St Louis Children’s Hospital
and the Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, Washington University
School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.
Recent
studies suggest cultural influences for specific infant care practices
must be more clearly understood to close gap between SIDS risk factor
awareness and behavioral changes to achieve reduction in SIDS racial
disparities rates.
See study published April 2003 Pediatrics.
Effect of a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Risk Reduction Education Program
on Risk Factor Compliance and Information Sources in Primarily Black
Urban Communities Kenneth A. Rasinski, PhD*, Alma Kuby, MBA*, Stefanie
A. Bzdusek, BA*, Jean M. Silvestri, MD and Debra E. Weese-Mayer, MD *
National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, Chicago,
Illinois Department of Pediatrics, Rush Children’s Hospital at
Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Center, Rush University, Chicago,
Illinois.
Recent
proposal recommends refinement of SIDS definition into 2 tiers for purposes
of administration and death certification as well as research and statistics.
See report Defining the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
J. Bruce Beckwith, MD Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157:286-290.
Study
on SIDS and childhood vaccines Questions are circulating about a causal
relationship between SIDS and childhood vaccines.
We suggest
you view the following study Immunization Safety Review: Vaccinations
and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Kathleen Stratton, Donna A.
Almario, Theresa M. Wizemann, and Marie C. McCormick, Editors, Immunization
Safety
Review Committee. The
report, states the committee, does not recommend a policy review of the
recommended
schedule on the basis of concerns about SIDS. Further, it states
no demonstrated causal relationship was identified in this study.
Recommendations Revised To Prevent Infant Deaths from Soft Bedding
Immunization
and SIDS
The following resources from the Immunization Program (NIP) at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of
Pediatrics summarize evidence which does not indicate a causal relationship
between SIDS and vaccines. You can find more information about the
overall benefits of immunizations on the Georgia Public Health Immunization
Program pages.
Vaccine
Safety: What You Need to Know
6 Common Misconceptions About Vaccination
Vaccine
Benefits Far Outweigh Any Risk: Parents Should Vaccinate their Children
The UK accelerated immunization programme and sudden unexpected death
in infancy: case-control study
