CHILD SAFETY: OVERHEATING AND CRIB DEATH

posted by admin in General health

Until now, the cause of crib death (also known as the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has remained a mystery, although, in many cases, it has been noted that the deceased infant had an infection (usually a “cold”) for a day or so before its untimely end. Research published in the Lancet (2:1199) offers a new and plausible explanation for this unexpected kind of death which acknowledges infection but does not give it all the blame.

In short, overheating has been proposed as the immediate cause of these deaths. Analysis of a large number of crib deaths has revealed a number of reasons for overheating, including fever due to an infection, too much clothing or too many blankets on the infant, and too high a temperature in the room. More than one of these causes coexisted in many cases.

Overheating is known to cause convulsions (febrile seizures), which generate extra body heat as well, thus constituting a vicious circle. Furthermore, apnea, a lack of breathing that (if prolonged) can be fatal, always accompanies convulsions. In newly born infants, apnea may even occur instead of convulsions.

So, if overheating is truly the main cause of crib death, and in the absence of a better explanation, one should avoid overdressing or covering a baby with too many blankets or keeping the house too warm, especially if the baby has an infection.

*86\143\2*

Share and Enjoy: