Thermal Stress in Sudden Infant Death: Is There an Ambiguity With the Rebreathing Hypothesis?

To assess the role of thermal stress in the cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and to compare risk factors with those of rebreathing. Analysis of publications concerning the epidemiology and physiology of thermal stress in SIDS. A strong association between thermal regulation and ventilat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 2001-04, Vol.107 (4), p.693-698
Main Authors: Guntheroth, Warren G, Spiers, Philip S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asphyxia - epidemiology
Asphyxia - etiology
Biological and medical sciences
Body Temperature Regulation - physiology
Causality
Fever - physiopathology
Health aspects
Health risk assessment
Heat stress disorders
Heat Stress Disorders - complications
Heat Stress Disorders - physiopathology
Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior - physiology
Infant, Newborn
Medical research
Medical sciences
Pediatrics
Pneumology
Posture - physiology
Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases
Risk Factors
SIDS
Sleep - physiology
Sudden Infant Death - epidemiology
Sudden Infant Death - etiology
Sudden infant death syndrome
Suffocation
Temperature
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Summary:To assess the role of thermal stress in the cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and to compare risk factors with those of rebreathing. Analysis of publications concerning the epidemiology and physiology of thermal stress in SIDS. A strong association between thermal regulation and ventilatory control was found, specifically for prolonged apnea. Infections, excessive room heat and insulation, and prone sleeping produce significantly increased odds ratios for SIDS. Although some of the risk factors for rebreathing could be explained by the effects of thermal stress, several factors for thermal stress could not reasonably be explained by the rebreathing hypothesis. Although the risk of thermal stress is widely accepted abroad, it has received relatively little attention in the United States. The incidence of SIDS in the United States can likely be further reduced by educating the public against the dangers of overheating, as an integral part of the back-to-sleep campaign.
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.107.4.693