Abstract

QUIROS GONZALEZ, Gabriela; BOLIVAR PORRAS, Mariela  and  SOLANO TENORIO, Natalia. Muerte Súbita del Lactante. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 2016, vol.33, n.1, pp.44-56. ISSN 2215-5287.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including the review of the clinical history, the examination of the death scene, and an autopsy. This condition is relevant because is a worldwide phenomenon, and it is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 to 12 months. Due to the importance of this subject, this research tries to make a bibliographic review that includes specialized terminology, worldwide epidemiology studies, risk factors, how to prevent it; and the approach, based on the Spanish and Massachusetts guidelines.

The diagnosis of SIDS is based in the exclusion of causes, and requires a thorough investigation to elucidate them. Also, SIDS has been associated with different risk factors that can trigger this event in children with genetic or acquired susceptibility, which in most cases can be modified and prevented by educating the parents and the health care providers. Because the physician and the pediatrician are the first professionals to have contact with the infant and their families, it is imperative that both have knowledge of this subject, not only for the prevention of such cases, but for the correct approach in these cases.

Keywords : Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy; SUID; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); sleep - related deads.

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