Abstract
M.A. (Psychology)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the most prevalent cause of death
in infants between one and twelve months of age. Most deaths
attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome occur between 1 and 4
months of age. There is a marked decrease after this age in the
number of deaths classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It
is usually defined as the sudden death of any infant usually
during sleep which is unexpected by history and in which a thorough
postmortem examination tails to demonstrate an adequate cause
tor death (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, 1989) •
Epidemiologic, pathologic and physiologic data suggest the mechanism
ot Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is complex, characterized by
interaction at many levels ot the neural axis, between the organism
and the environment and spanning both pre- and post-natal lite.
Observations suggest that the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome infant
has experienced adverse influences prenatally Which may make him
peculiarly vulnerable to postnatal environmental stress (Valdes Dapena,
1988). However, the specific nature and cause of this
condition continues to elude both scientists and practitioners.
In the last few years research has shed some light on various
epidemiologic aspects of the problem, on pathologic anatomy and on
clinical issues such as the relative importance of spontaneous,
prolonged, idiopathic apnea. Some Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
victims showed evidence of neonatal brain dysfunction, including
abnormalities in respiration, feeding and temperature regulation
and have been shown to have pathologic abnormalities consistent
with chronic hypoxia (Kelly' Shannon, 1982). Once again, however,
the research appears not to be conclusive, leaving many
unanswered questions...