Sids Infants example essay topic

SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a leading cause of death in infants under the age of one, has left medical experts unable to clearly define sudden infant death syndrome. After thirty years of research, the medical field has not discovered definite causes for SIDS. Medical experts have suggested many theories that have been studied and debated. In the Western world, SIDS is the most common cause of death for infants between two weeks and one year of age, but SIDS also occurs throughout the world.

SIDS most commonly happens during sleep, although it can occur anywhere, such as in baby carriages, safety car seats, or even someone's arms. There are no warning signals and there are no products to prevent SIDS. Ninety-five percent of SIDS cases happen in infants between two weeks and four months. The rate of occurrence is higher for boys than girls, with 60% percent in boys and 40% in girls. (American 1) Infants born to teenage mothers and low birth weight are considered high risk factors for SIDS.

SIDS has been researched throughout the world, with many medical experts debating the studies. Some past theories believed to trigger SIDS were childhood vaccinations, blood disorders, apnea and even parent neglect, but none of these theories were proven true. In a more recent study, the H Pylori Link to SIDS proposed that there was 'An association between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Helicobacter Pylori infection. ' (SIDS Alliance 5) The study asserted that H Pylori, a type of common bacteria associated to ulcers, was lethal when passed through saliva from an infected parent or other care giver by contact such as kissing. Among other reasons, the study was found faulty because the control population was flawed. On May 14, 2000, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development funded research announced finding that SIDS infants have an abnormal brain pathway.

The affected areas of the brain stem are important to the functions in regulating breathing, heart beat and body temperature and arousal. 'These findings show that SIDS infants have a more global biological deficit than we previously believed -- -one that may originate early in fetal life,' said Dr. Marian Will inger of NICHD's Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch. (National 4) In another study at both Harvard and Dartmouth, medical researchers stated that SIDS babies probably have a defect in the brain neuro chemicals that usually operate the protective responses to changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. (IntelliHealth 3) Placing an infant to sleep on its back has been a universal prevention for SIDS and may be the largest contributing factor for the decline in SIDS cases. In the last two decades, the cases of infants who died from SIDS declined by more than 50%, with less than seven infants per 10,000 infants that died from SID. (American 1) A campaign, called 'Back to Sleep,' was launched in the United States in 1991, in an effort to inform parents that they should place their infant on their back when sleeping.

Many parents, mainly among minority families, are still unaware of this prevention step. Other preventive measures include: breast feeding, not smoking during and after pregnancies, and parents should not to sleep with their infants. Another prevention device is the movement monitor, commonly called apnea or breathing monitor, that supposedly sounds an alarm after 20 seconds, if the monitor is unable to detect an infant's breathing movement. The monitor utilizes sensor pads but it does not monitor air flow. Movement monitors are widely used but there is no evidence that proves the monitors actually can prevent SIDS. Although there are thousands of SIDS victims throughout the world today, the medical field has yet to clearly define SIDS.

In the Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine, Dr. Emery said, '... whether the term SIDS is in reality more of a diagnostic dustbin into which are placed a variety of unrelated entities... There are a number of controversies in the SIDS field which complicate the use of the term and which confound the assessment of causes and mechanisms of sudden infant death. ' (Emery 2) It is very clear the medical field has a long way to go before they know what SIDS really is and what can be done to prevent SIDS.

Bibliography

1. Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Implications for Infant Sleeping Environment and Sleeping Positions (RE 9946), American Academy of Pediatric, Volume 105, Number 3 web Emery, RW Dr., Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A 'Diagnosis' in Search of a Disease, Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine. Harcourt International, Australia, 1995, pp.
121-128. web SIDS: Uncovering the Mystery. Intellihealth, Harvard Medical School Health Information. web Study Confirms Deficit in Brain stems of SIDS Victims. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, May 16, 2000.
http: //156.40. 88.3: 9000/cgi-bin / query? mss = simple&pg = q&what = web&user = search intranet&enc = iso 88591&site = main&q = SIDS. 5. H Pylori Link to SIDS Challenged by SIDS Medical Experts. SIDS Alliance Organization, Media Advisory, Oct. 25, 2000.