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Sudden infant death syndrome causes. Pathological changes in the brain. Sudden cardiac death - causes

Sudden infant death syndrome causes. Pathological changes in the brain. Sudden cardiac death - causes

30.07.2019

Sudden death occurs as a result of a fast-flowing latent or clinically pronounced painful condition. As medical practice shows, sudden death in adults often occurs due to acute coronary insufficiency, congenital or acquired cardiac and vascular pathologies. Find out what symptoms may indirectly indicate a hidden threat.

What is sudden death

According to international medical recommendations, sudden death is considered to be the death of a person within 6 hours after the appearance of the first symptoms pathological condition. Instant death, or translated into English sudden death, occurs without knowing known cause. In addition, there are no morphological signs on the basis of which an appropriate diagnosis of the patient’s sudden death can be made at autopsy.

However, during a post-mortem examination of a person, a pathologist, having compared all available data, can make a logical conclusion about the instantaneous or violent death of the person. In most cases, instant death is supported by changes in organs in which continuation of life for the shortest period of time is impossible.

Causes of sudden death

Statistics show that the main cause of most deaths is heart disease: ischemic pathology, the onset of ventricular fibrillation. At the same time, when answering what causes instant death, experts often name chronic illnesses that occur in a latent form for a long time, after which they suddenly worsen and lead to the unexpected death of a person. One of these is deadly dangerous diseases is cancer.

In most cases, oncology develops asymptomatically and makes itself felt when the patient is often considered hopeless. Thus, malignant liver disease is the main cause of unexpected deaths in China. Another insidious disease that can lead to sudden death is AIDS, which claims millions of lives in Africa every year. In addition, it is worth mentioning separately about Mexico. This is the only country in which cirrhosis of the liver is the main cause of high mortality in the population.

In young age

Today, boys and girls are exposed every day negative influence modern lifestyle. From TV screens, covers fashion magazines The cult of a slender (often dystrophic) body, accessibility and promiscuity is imposed on young people. Therefore, it is quite understandable that the mortality rate of people just beginning their life journey will increase over time. The main causes of instant death among boys and girls under 25 years of age are considered to be:

alcohol;
smoking;
promiscuity;
drug addiction;
poor nutrition;
psychological sensitivity;
hereditary diseases;
severe congenital pathologies.

In a dream

Unexpected death in this condition occurs due to the loss of special cells responsible for the contractility of the lungs. Thus, scientists from the USA were able to prove that people die in their sleep in most cases due to central sleep apnea. In this case, a person may even wake up, but still leave this mortal world due to oxygen starvation caused by a stroke or cardiac arrest. As a rule, elderly people are susceptible to this syndrome. There are no specific treatments for central sleep apnea.

Sudden infant death

This syndrome was first described in the early 60s of the last century, although cases of instant death of infants were recorded earlier, but they were not subjected to such a thorough analysis. Young children have very high adaptive abilities and incredible resistance to a variety of negative factors, so death infant is considered to be an exceptional situation. However, there are a number of external and internal reasons that can lead to sudden infant death:

prolongation of the Q-T interval;
apnea (the phenomenon of periodic breathing);
deficiency of serotonin receptors;
overheat.

Risk factors

Due to the fact that the main cardiogenic cause of instant death is ischemic disease, it is quite logical to assume that the syndromes accompanying this heart pathology can be fully attributed to conditions that can increase the likelihood of sudden death. With all this, it has been scientifically proven that this connection is mediated through the underlying disease. Clinical risk factors for the development of clinical death among patients with ischemic syndrome are:

acute myocardial infarction;
post-infarction macrofocal sclerosis;
unstable angina;
heart rhythm disturbance due to ischemic changes (rigid, sinus);
ventricular asystole;
myocardial damage;
episodes of loss of consciousness;
damage to the coronary (heart) arteries;
diabetes;
electrolyte imbalance (eg, hyperkalemia);
arterial hypertension;
smoking.

How does sudden death occur?

This syndrome develops in a matter of minutes (less often hours) without any warning in the midst of complete well-being. In most cases, instant death affects young men aged 35 to 43 years. Moreover, often during the pathological examination of the deceased, vascular causes of sudden death are discovered. Thus, studying the increasing cases of instant death, experts came to the conclusion that the main provoking factor in the occurrence of this syndrome is a violation of coronary blood flow.

For heart failure

In 85% of cases, immediate death is recorded in individuals with structural abnormalities of the organ that pumps blood into the vessels. In this case, sudden cardiac death looks like a lightning-fast clinical variant of coronary artery disease. Medical practice shows that in a quarter of people who die instantly, bradycardia and episodes of asystole are observed before the onset of primary symptoms. Death from cardiac arrest occurs due to the launch of the following pathogenetic mechanisms:

Reducing left ventricular fractional ejection by 25-30%. This syndrome greatly increases the risk of sudden coronary death.
Ectopic focus of automatism in the ventricle (more than 10 ventricular extrasystoles per hour or unstable ventricular tachycardia), arising as a consequence of ventricular arrhythmias. The latter mostly develop against the background of acute transient myocardial ischemia. An ectopic focus of automatism is usually classified as a risk factor for sudden arrhythmic death.
The process of spasm of the blood vessels of the heart, which leads to ischemia and contributes to the deterioration of the restoration of blood flow to damaged areas.

It is worth noting that tachyarrhythmia is a particularly significant electrophysiological mechanism resulting in sudden coronary death in a person with heart failure. At the same time, timely treatment of this condition using a defibrillator with a modified pulse configuration significantly reduces the number of deaths among patients who have suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

From a heart attack

Blood enters the heart through the coronary arteries. If their lumen closes, the formation of primary foci of necrosis and ischemia in the heart occurs. Acute manifestation of cardiac pathology begins with damage to the vascular wall with further thrombosis and spasm of the arteries. As a result, the load on the heart increases, the myocardium begins to experience oxygen starvation, which affects its electrical activity.

As a result of a sudden coronary spasm, ventricular fibrillation occurs, a few seconds after which there is a complete cessation of blood circulation to the brain. At the next stage, the patient experiences respiratory arrest, atony, and absence of corneal and pupillary reflexes. After 4 minutes from the onset of ventricular fibrillation and complete cessation of blood circulation in the body, irreversible changes occur in the brain cells. In general, death from a heart attack can occur in 3-5 minutes.

From a blood clot

In the venous bed, these pathological formations arise due to the uncoordinated work of the coagulation and anticoagulation systems. Thus, the onset of the appearance of a clot is caused by damage to the vascular wall and its inflammation against the background of thrombophlebitis. Perceiving the appropriate chemical signal, the coagulation system comes into action. As a result, fibrin threads form near the pathological area, in which blood cells become entangled, creating all the conditions for the blood clot to break off.

In arteries, the formation of clots occurs due to narrowing of the vascular lumen. Thus, cholesterol plaques block the path of free blood flow, resulting in the formation of a lump of platelets and fibrin threads. It is important to note that in medicine a distinction is made between floating and mural thrombi. Compared to the first type, the latter has a slight chance of breaking off and causing a blockage (embolism) of the vessel. In most cases, the causes of sudden cardiac arrest from a blood clot are due to the movement of a floating thrombus.

One of the serious consequences of the separation of such a clot is blockage of the pulmonary artery, which is expressed in severe coughing, cyanosis skin. Often there is respiratory failure followed by cessation of cardiac activity. An equally serious consequence of the detachment of a blood clot is a violation of cerebral circulation due to embolism of the main vessels of the head.

Diagnosis of sudden death

A timely physical examination is the key to the success of further cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) measures. Diagnosis of instant death is based on symptoms characteristic of the patient's natural death. Thus, absence of consciousness is determined if no external stimuli cause reactions on the part of the person being resuscitated.

Diagnosis of breathing disorders is noted when within 10-20 s. observation fails to detect coordinated movements of the sternum and the noise of the air exhaled by the patient. However, agonal breaths do not provide adequate ventilation of the lungs and cannot be interpreted as spontaneous breathing. During ECG monitoring, pathological changes characteristic of clinical death are detected:

ventricular fibrillation or flutter;
cardiac asystole;
electromechanical dissociation.

Clinical manifestations

In 25% of cases, sudden death occurs instantly without any warning signs. Some patients, a week before clinical death, complain of various prodromal manifestations: increased pain in the sternum, general weakness, shortness of breath. It is important to note that today there are already methods for preventing heart attacks based on early diagnosis warning symptoms of this condition. Immediately before the onset of sudden death, half of the patients experience an anginal attack. TO clinical signs imminent death of the patient include:

loss of consciousness;
absence of pulse in the carotid arteries;
dilated pupils;
lack of breathing or the appearance of agonal breaths;
change in skin color from normal to gray with a bluish tint.

Medical care for sudden death

Typically, most cases of unexpected cardiac arrest occur outside the hospital. For this reason, it is extremely important to master the technique of providing emergency care in case of sudden clinical death. This is especially true for subjects of society who, due to their job responsibilities come into contact with a large number of people. Remember, competent resuscitation actions immediately in the first minutes after the onset of symptoms of cardiac arrest will help gain time before arrival medical workers.

Urgent Care

The main problem that arises in unconscious persons is obstruction of the airways by the root of the tongue and the epiglottis due to muscle atony. It must be said that this condition develops in any position of the body, and when the head is tilted forward, it develops in 100% of cases. Therefore, the first thing that needs to be done is to ensure proper airway patency. For this purpose, you need to use P. Safar’s triple technique, consisting of the following sequential actions:

Throwing back the head;
Moving the lower jaw forward;
Opening the mouth.

Once airway patency is ensured, you should proceed to artificial pulmonary ventilation (ALV). When providing first aid, this activity is carried out using the mouth-to-mouth method. So, one hand is placed on the victim’s forehead, while the other pinches his nose. Then the resuscitator fixes his own lips around the mouth of the person being revived and blows air, while controlling the excursion of the patient's chest. When it is visible, you need to release the victim’s mouth, giving him a chance to exhale passively.

At the next stage, artificial maintenance of blood circulation is carried out, to ensure which an algorithm for performing indirect cardiac massage or chest compression is used. For this purpose, you need to correctly lay the person being resuscitated on a flat surface. Next, you should determine the compression points: by palpating the xiphoid process and moving away from it 2 transverse fingers upward.

The hand must be placed on the border of the middle and lower part of the sternum so that the fingers are parallel to the ribs. Pushes are performed with the limbs straightened at the elbows. Chest compression is performed at a frequency of 100 compressions per minute with a break for artificial ventilation. The depth of the shocks is about 4-5 cm. Measures to restore cardiac activity should be stopped if:

A pulse appeared in the main arteries.
The actions taken do not have the desired effect within 30 minutes. The exception is the following conditions that require prolongation of resuscitation:

hypothermia;
drowning;
drug overdose;
electrical injury.

Resuscitation measures

Today, the concept of CPR is based on strict rules that ensure complete safety of the activities carried out for human life. In addition, an algorithm for the resuscitator’s actions in case of sudden cardiac arrest or sudden loss of respiratory function in the injured person is presented and scientifically substantiated. In the development of these conditions, time plays a major role: only a few minutes separate a person from death. The algorithm for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation involves performing the following actions:

Determining the condition of the victim, on the basis of which the range of measures necessary for revival is selected;
Early initiation of CPR, which involves performing two manipulations: chest compressions and artificial ventilation.
If the second stage is ineffective, they proceed to defibrillation. The procedure involves applying an electrical impulse to the heart muscle. In this case, direct current discharges should be applied only if the electrodes are correctly installed and good contact with the skin of the victim.
At this stage, as a rule, the victim is provided with specialized medical care, including the following early treatment measures:

artificial ventilation with tracheal intubation;
drug support, involving the use of:
catecholamines (adrenaline, atropine);
antidiuretic hormones (Vasopressin);
antiarrhythmic drugs (Cordarone, Lidocaine);
fibrinolytic agents (Streptokinase).
intravenous drip administration of electrolyte or buffer solutions (for example, sodium bicarbonate is administered for acidosis)

Video

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, “cradle death”) is the death of a child under the age of 1 year in the absence of signs of illness and without features at autopsy. This phenomenon is one of the most mysterious and tragic in medicine; there are many myths and legends around it.

To avoid unnecessary fears for the child, as well as to prevent SIDS, you need to know the scientific point of view on this issue.

What is sudden infant death syndrome?

The term SIDS was introduced in the late 60s of the last century, although cases of sudden death of infants were described earlier, such facts are found everywhere in the literature. Only in the 80-90s, after studying risk factors, pediatricians began to conduct active campaigns to prevent this syndrome.

SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Despite the high adaptive capabilities, infants often die from external and internal causes. Most often these are developmental defects, infectious diseases, injuries (including intentional ones) and tumors. Usually the cause of death can be determined from the medical history and autopsy results. But sometimes no research provides answers to questions. Healthy, ok developing child falls asleep, and after some time his parents find him dead in his crib. It is this sudden and causeless death that is called SIDS.

Why does SIDS occur?

Risk sudden death in cribs is maximum in children aged 2-4 months, gradually decreases by 6 months and tends to zero after 9 months. Scientists have found out at what age sudden infant death syndrome is dangerous, but have not been able to establish the cause. A number of features characteristic of all SIDS victims have been identified. Thus, at autopsy, underdeveloped parts of the brain were discovered in children (the arcuate nucleus, for example), which are responsible for the synchronization of cardiovascular and respiratory activity.

Long QT hypothesis

The time from the beginning of contraction of the ventricles of the heart to their relaxation is indicated on the cardiogram by the Q-T interval. According to various estimates, prolongation of this moment to 440-450 ms is called prolonged QT. The connection of this feature with sudden coronary death in adults has been proven for a long time. Now it turned out that in 30-35% of children who died from SIDS, such increased intervals were recorded at which electrical instability of the heart muscle occurs. And often this feature is absolutely physiological, reaches a peak by 2 months and disappears by six months, which coincides with age-related risks of sudden death.

Apnea hypothesis

Many healthy children experience the phenomenon of periodic breathing, when deep breaths are interspersed at intervals of 3 to 20 seconds. But in some cases, pauses between breathing movements increase significantly. Most often this happens in. Such apnea (cessation of breathing) lasting more than 20 disappears after premature babies reach the age corresponding to 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Although in rare cases, long pauses persist in full-term infants. Scientists have identified some relationship between such apnea and SIDS, so premature babies with long breath holds are recommended to install special breathing recorders.

Serotonin receptor deficiency

Lack of cells that capture serotonin, which are located in certain parts brain is a common finding at autopsies of SIDS victims. This deficiency is concentrated precisely in the area of the brain responsible for cardiorespiratory synchrony, that is, for the connection between breathing and heart rate. There is a hypothesis according to which it is defects in serotonin receptors that cause sleep apnea in children.

The incomplete thermoregulation hypothesis

It is believed that the vital centers in the medulla oblongata mature in children until they reach three months. With immature brain cells responsible for thermoregulation, the average body temperature in babies is lower than normal. By approximately 3 months of life, temperature constancy occurs (when measured in the rectum). Shortly before the maturation of these cells, fluctuations in the numbers on the thermometer and an inadequate temperature response may be observed. That is, if the bedroom microclimate changes, the baby may simply overheat, which will affect respiratory and cardiac activity and lead to sudden death.

There are many other hypotheses (genetic, infectious, vertebral artery compression hypothesis), but none of them explains absolutely all cases of SIDS.

Mechanism of sudden death

For SIDS to occur, a combination of genetic factors, critical age and unfavorable external conditions is necessary. Usually, children laid on their stomachs in a soft bed immediately wake up with a lack of oxygen and change their position. But for some babies this protective mechanism does not work. They can bury themselves in the feather bed, the oxygen content in the blood will drop and the level of carbon dioxide will increase, but there will be no reflex waking up. The child will inhale waste air again and again until the oxygen level becomes critical and leads to death. An additional factor such as parental smoking also causes a disruption of this protective reflex.

Risk factors for SIDS

Despite the unsuccessful search for the exact cause of sudden infant death, scientists have identified several risk factors. Eliminating these factors makes it possible to reduce the number of sudden deaths significantly, although many predisposing features cannot be eliminated.

Factors associated with pregnancy and childbirth

maternal drug addiction and smoking during pregnancy
intrauterine hypoxia and developmental delay
prematurity

Features of the child

male, age 2-4 months
resuscitation measures in the past (the more episodes in the child’s life that required emergency care, the higher the risks)
the child's brother or sister died from SIDS (this applies to deaths from any non-communicable disease, not just SIDS)
frequent and prolonged episodes of apnea, high awakening threshold

Baby's sleep conditions

sleeping on your stomach and side
smoking by parents after the birth of a child
soft bed, feather bed, pillow
overheating, cold season
child living at high altitudes above sea level

The main factors in the occurrence of sudden causeless death of a baby are sleeping on the stomach, conditions in the crib and parental smoking.

Sleeping while lying on your stomach

Years of research have shown that a baby sleeping on their stomach is at greater risk of sudden death. It is especially dangerous to place children on their stomachs during sleep after a long break or for the first time, that is, to create the so-called “unusual position on the stomach.” Most often it occurs during nap outside the house.

Previously, it was believed that the side position was not dangerous. But now it is known that the risk of such a position is no less, since children often turn from it onto their stomach. Therefore, the only safe position can be considered the supine position. The exception is conditions in which sleeping on the back is contraindicated (underdevelopment of the lower jaw, severe gastroesophageal reflux). These babies spit up frequently and may inhale the vomit. The vast majority of babies sleep peacefully on their backs without the risk of choking.

Conditions for sleeping

An important element of a baby’s safety is the environment in his bedroom and specifically in his crib. Potential causes of sudden death include:

Warm quilts
Volumetric soft pillows
Soft feather beds and mattresses
Increased room temperature
Co-sleeping with parents

Parents smoking

The nicotine addiction of mom and dad harms not only their own health, but also has a detrimental effect on the child. There are several versions of why passive inhalation of tobacco smoke leads to sudden death during sleep. The most common is a decrease in the amount of catecholamines, which are responsible for sensitivity to oxygen starvation, under the influence of nicotine.

Since smoking mothers most often smoked during pregnancy, their children are characterized by delayed development of all parts of the brain, including the centers of cardiac and respiratory regulation. The combination of these factors leads to such a tragic consequence as SIDS.

What could be hiding under the mask of SDV?

Most child deaths infancy have reasons. Sometimes, a thorough investigation and autopsy by experts is carried out to find these causative factors. And only occasionally does death remain a mystery, receiving the name SIDS.

Consequences of abuse

The death of a child may be the result of a parent's outburst of anger, or may occur due to chronic beatings and bullying. Unfortunately, this happens more often than we would like. And while doctors arriving at the scene of the tragedy immediately find serious injuries and fractures, some consequences of violence cannot be immediately seen.

These include intentional suffocation and shaken baby syndrome. The latter is damage to the thin vessels of the brain as a result of shaking the baby. The fragile neck and relatively large head of a child in the first year of life predispose to severe brain damage, including loss of consciousness, coma and death.

A repeated case of SIDS in the family raises the possibility of possible child abuse. If the third child dies just as suddenly, then forensic doctors have no doubt about the cruel treatment of the parents.

Unintentional strangulation

Sleepless nights, hormonal changes and breast-feeding on demand tire every mother. Therefore her night sleep can be very strong, despite increased sensitivity to the baby's cries. If a child sleeps in the same bed as his mother, there is some risk of unintentional suffocation. This risk increases several times when the mother takes alcohol or drugs for insomnia.

One of the most famous literary and historical facts SIDS was the parable of Solomon's judgment from the Old Testament. Two mothers came to Solomon, one of whom found her baby dead in bed (“slept” him) and placed the little body in the second mother’s bed.

She called the living baby her son. Solomon wisely resolved the women's dispute by giving the child to the real mother, who did not agree to cut him into two parts. Since then, the habit of putting the baby in the parents' bed has appeared and disappeared among different nations.

In the 18th and 19th centuries there were even strict prohibitions on co-sleeping, and “sprinkling” a child was equated to deliberate murder. Currently, most mothers try to place their babies in a separate crib, although cases of their sudden death still occur.

Viral and bacterial infections

In infants, many infectious diseases have an atypical course. With severe organ damage, sometimes there are no clear symptoms. This is especially true for low birth weight premature babies. Therefore, before making a diagnosis of SIDS, the pathologist will definitely rule out pneumonia, meningitis and other dangerous complications of infections.

Prevention of SIDS

Sudden infant death cannot be predicted or prevented with 100% certainty. But you can provide your baby with a safe environment and eliminate many risk factors.

Home breathing monitoring

IN last years Many home devices have appeared that allow you to monitor your child’s breathing, pulse, and even the oxygen saturation of his blood. Such devices operate on the principle of a baby monitor, giving parents an audible signal when there are long pauses in the baby’s breathing and heart rhythm disturbances. But, unfortunately, studies have not proven at least any preventive benefit of such devices. Home monitoring does not significantly reduce the incidence of SIDS. The use of sensors is permissible only in children of high risk groups:

Infants who have had episodes of loss of consciousness, blueness, requiring emergency care (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Premature low birth weight infants with frequent episodes of apnea
Children with proven respiratory diseases leading to respiratory arrest

Useless commercial innovations include wedges, as well as all kinds of sleep positioners. These devices secure the child, preventing him from turning onto his stomach. From a statistical point of view, the risks of sudden death in such children do not decrease at all.

SIDS and vaccination

Anti-vaccination activists are happy to use the SIDS phenomenon to scare parents with the “horrors of vaccination.” Indeed, a baby's first vaccinations often coincide with the peak incidence of sudden death. But numerous extensive studies have proven that the coincidence of vaccination episodes and sudden death is completely random. Moreover, vaccinated children die in the cradle much less often than unvaccinated ones. Lack of vaccination will not only not protect against SIDS, but will also increase the risk of dying from respiratory arrest due to whooping cough, for example.

When should you pay special attention to your child?

In some circumstances, it is necessary to show a little more attention to the baby’s health in order to avoid a tragic outcome.

High temperature in a child, especially during sleep
Refusal to eat, decrease motor activity
All respiratory diseases (pharyngitis, bronchitis, even a common runny nose)
Baby's sleep after prolonged hysterics and crying
Sleeping in unusual conditions (away from home, not in your own crib)

Help for parents who have experienced the sudden death of a child

The bitterness of such an unexpected and severe loss is incomparable. But it must be remembered that SIDS cannot be predicted and prevented, and there is no fault of the parents in the death of the child. Therefore, it is necessary to seek help from a psychologist, start classes in support groups and continue to live. Most families manage to maintain unity, have children and avoid a repeat of the tragedy.

Key Findings About SIDS

Sudden death healthy child– tragic, but extremely rare occurrence
It is impossible to predict the development of SIDS
Postmortem diagnosis of SIDS is made only in the absence of signs of illness or violence
The main measures to prevent sudden infant death: sleeping on the back, a crib with a hard mattress, no pillow and a light blanket/sleeping bag, as well as parental cessation of smoking.
Home devices for monitoring breathing and heartbeat are necessary only for children at risk
The presence in medicine of such a phenomenon as SIDS is not a reason for the development of anxiety in mom and dad. Create a child safe conditions and enjoy parenting!

A tragic phenomenon in medicine, a mystery without an answer - this is how sudden infant death syndrome is often called. And indeed, such an extremely mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon began to appear more and more often. Essentially, this is the death of a child under the age of 1 year without any signs of disease or abnormalities at autopsy. The baby simply dies for no apparent reason, unexpectedly and quietly. What is such a syndrome, why it can develop and how to deal with it - in the material of AiF.ru.

Risk group

Sudden infant death syndrome has no clear definition. The death of a child is often called unexplained. At the same time, there are no direct or indirect factors on the baby’s body or in the house that could serve as a catalyst - no infections, no bacteria, no genetic abnormalities, no other pathological problems. Doctors still cannot explain why exactly this problem develops. However, a number of studies on this topic have made it possible to draw some conclusions. For example, according to statistics, most often ADHD occurs in children under the age of 8 months, and greatest number cases are recorded at the age of 2-4 months. Of the total number of children killed, 60% were boys. As for time, the death of infants is noted at night - from midnight to 6 am.

We study the reasons

There are no main and clear reasons for the development of SIDS. However, some doctors suspect that the catalyst is the imperfect functioning of the brain, when literally second-to-second glitches occur in it that can quickly unbalance the baby’s body. Others are confident that the leading role in the development of this pathology belongs to heart rhythm disturbances - children who have an extended QT interval on the ECG are susceptible to it. In addition, there is a theory according to which ADHD develops due to the fact that the position of a sleeping child on his stomach with his head turned to the side causes compression of the spinal artery, which causes hypoxia and apnea.

Today, doctors identify only concomitant factors that can provoke a corresponding reaction. Among them:

Sleeping on your stomach (this factor is often called the main one)
Excessive wrapping
Using a mattress and pillows that are too soft
The presence of unreasonable stops in breathing, incl. if such a situation was observed among the child’s brothers and sisters
Mother's age is up to 20 years, when she is single and was not registered with a doctor
Presence of illnesses in the mother during pregnancy
Small gap between pregnancies (less than a year)
Difficult course of childbirth
Prematurity
Artificial feeding
Sleeping in separate rooms with parents

Also, such children often had sleep apnea. At the same time, it is worth understanding that an absolutely healthy baby may experience short pauses of 12-15 seconds in the first year, and this is a variant of the norm. If such breathing stops take 20 seconds or more and are accompanied by pale skin, lethargy, decreased muscle tone, then they talk about full-blown and life-threatening sleep apnea.

Why morning?

Most often, sudden infant death occurs early in the morning. And this is quite understandable, because... In any person - be it an adult or an infant - a part of the nervous system called the parasympathetic is activated at night - it is responsible for lowering the respiratory rate and heart rate. Also, in the morning, the level of glucorticoids in the blood decreases, which also causes a decrease in the body’s reserve capabilities.

If parents manage to notice the baby’s breathing stops during sleep, the situation can be corrected. First of all, the respiratory center should be stimulated. You need to take the child in your arms and stir him up - there is no need to be afraid of waking him up in such a situation, the main thing here is to save his life. After breathing has appeared, you should gently massage your arms, legs, feet and earlobes. It is also advised to vigorously run your finger along the spine.

If the baby does not wake up and breathing is not restored, it is necessary to begin the resuscitation procedure and call emergency help.

Prevention rules

The main danger of sudden infant death syndrome is precisely its suddenness - it is impossible to predict it. At the same time, doctors have identified measures that can act as preventative measures. For example, you should ensure that your baby sleeps on his back - today there are many devices for this that securely fix the baby and prevent him from rolling over. You will also have to exclude soft bedding sets. An excellent solution would be a hard mattress and a sleeping bag - it will serve as a blanket without completely covering the child. There shouldn't be any in the bed soft toys. Despite the fact that one of the risk factors is sleeping separately from your parents, you should still not choose to sleep together. Ideally, the baby will sleep in his own crib or cradle next to the parent's bed.

You should dress your baby correctly before going to bed - do not choose clothes that are too warm, and the temperature in the room should not be higher than 20 degrees. If there was feeding before bedtime, you must wait for the baby to burp.

Particular attention should be paid to the child in the following situations:

Availability high temperature, especially during sleep
Refusal to eat
Decreased physical activity
Presence of respiratory infection
Baby's sleep after prolonged hysterics and crying
Sleeping in new conditions (for example, at a party)

It’s worth being fully prepared and carefully monitoring your baby, then there is an opportunity to prevent the development of ADHD and save the baby’s life.

SIDS (or SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome, or “death in the crib”, in foreign medicine - SIDS) is the unexpected causeless death of a child aged from a week to a year. The origin of the syndrome is not fully understood, but most doctors consider it to be the result of apnea (stopping breathing) and heart rhythm disturbances. The most susceptible to SIDS are boys (about 60%) under the age of seven months (“peak” occurs at 2-4 months). Most often, sudden death occurs at night or in the morning, during the cold season.

How common is SIDS?

According to statistics, the SIDS rate in developed countries ranges from 0.2 to 1.5 cases per 1000 newborns (for example, in 1999: in Germany - 0.78, USA - 0.77, Russia (data for St. Petersburg) - 0.43, Sweden - 0.45). Following an information campaign to reduce the risk of SIDS in England and Sweden, rates fell by 70% and 33% respectively.
According to the World Health Organization, SIDS is one of the three leading causes of death in children in the first year of life (along with congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions) - it accounts for different countries accounts for up to 30% in the structure of infant mortality.

In what cases is SIDS diagnosed?

Doctors speak about sudden infant death syndrome only after a thorough investigation of all the circumstances of the child’s death, during which any possible pathologies are consistently excluded. When neither a post-mortem examination nor a thorough analysis of the child's developmental history explains the reasons for his sudden death, a diagnosis of SIDS is made. Special statistical studies of all circumstances accompanying SIDS are carried out, and risk factors are identified.

What are the main risk factors for SIDS?

According to statistics, the main risk factors include: overheating and poor ventilation of the room, smoking in the child’s room, excessively tight swaddling, sleeping on the stomach, too soft a pillow and mattress. According to some pediatricians, the reason for the increase in the number of cases of SIDS - in the tummy position - actually lies in the soft pillow or mattress. They simply “pinch” the child’s nose, blocking his breathing. Therefore, the crib should have a hard, smooth mattress, and it is better to abandon the pillow altogether. But, one way or another, statistics clearly indicate that sleeping on the stomach significantly increases the risk of SIDS: in countries where, traditionally, or as a result of an information campaign, children are placed to sleep on their backs, the lowest percentage of cases of sudden death of babies is recorded.
Risk factors also include: prematurity and low birth weight of the child; young age of mother (up to 17 years); complicated, prolonged or premature; abortions; multiple births, especially with short time intervals.

What can cause SIDS?

Experts believe that most often this is the result of the immaturity of the infant’s neurohumoral system. During this period, children often experience apnea - temporary holding their breath; and if they occur more than once an hour and last longer than 10-15 seconds, you should immediately inform your pediatrician about it.

Another version of SIDS is disturbances in the baby’s cardiac activity: various types of arrhythmias, even short-term cardiac arrest; they can occur even in healthy children. In any such case, you should also immediately consult your pediatrician.

There is an increase in the number of sudden deaths of infants in the autumn-winter period. This may be due to an increase in the number of respiratory viral infections, or with a decrease in immunity and the need for increased stress on the adaptation reserves of the child’s body.

According to one hypothesis, the death of an infant may occur as a result of chronic psycho-emotional stress.
Does co-sleeping increase the risk of SIDS?
There is no clear opinion on this matter. Some doctors are inclined to believe that co-sleeping may increase the risk of SIDS - if it disrupts the baby's comfortable sleep. However, most pediatricians consider co-sleeping, on the contrary, a factor in the prevention of SIDS. After all, the child’s body is so sensitive that it synchronizes its own breathing and heartbeat with the breathing and heartbeat of the mother. In addition, the close proximity of the mother allows her to react as quickly as possible, for example, if the child stops breathing.

Is the risk of SIDS higher in dysfunctional families?

Since ill-being is primarily manifested in the lack of basic conditions for the life of a newborn, as well as in the mother’s addictions during pregnancy and lactation - smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, this, of course, increases the risk of SIDS. In addition, in such families the level of education and awareness of parents is extremely low, there is a lack of basic knowledge and skills for infant. Such parents, as a rule, are inattentive to the baby’s health and may not notice any alarming symptoms.

What does “genetic predisposition to SIDS” mean?

If the baby’s siblings or his parents experienced causeless cardiac or respiratory arrest in infancy, and even more so if there have been cases of causeless infant death in the family, then such a child should be classified as a high-risk group.
Can SIDS be prevented?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely exclude the syndrome, since the exact causes that cause it have not yet been established, but it is possible and necessary to reduce the risk of SIDS. Competent, attentive observation of the child by a pediatrician from birth, maybe at the most early stages identify the baby’s health problems and his predisposition to SIDS.

To monitor the child’s condition, there are special devices: respiratory monitors (or breathing monitors) and cardiorespiratory monitors (additionally responding to heart rhythm disturbances). Respiratory monitors are used more in the home; they are installed under the mattress of the crib and are equipped with a warning system.

What to do if the child stops breathing?

If the baby suddenly stops breathing, you should vigorously move your fingers from bottom to top along the spinal column, pick him up, stir him, massage his arms, feet, and earlobes. As a rule, these measures are enough to restore the child’s breathing. If this does not happen, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance, and before the doctors arrive, resort to emergency measures: perform a chest massage, artificial respiration.

It is necessary to know how to provide first aid in case of suffocation - after all, respiratory arrest can also occur due to foreign objects entering the child’s respiratory tract.

Description:

Sudden infant death syndrome, or “crib death” in foreign medicine – SIDS) is the unexpected causeless death of a child aged from a week to a year. The origin of the syndrome is not fully understood, but most doctors consider it to be the result of apnea (stopping breathing) and heart rhythm disturbances. The most susceptible to SIDS are boys (about 60%) under the age of seven months (“peak” occurs at 2-4 months). Most often, sudden death occurs at night or in the morning, during the cold season.
According to statistics, the SIDS rate in developed countries ranges from 0.2 to 1.5 cases per 1000 newborns (for example, in 1999: in Germany - 0.78, USA - 0.77, Russia (data for St. Petersburg) - 0.43, Sweden - 0.45). Following an information campaign to reduce the risk of SIDS in England and Sweden, rates fell by 70% and 33% respectively.
According to the World Health Organization, SIDS is one of the three leading causes of death in children in the first year of life (along with congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions) - it accounts for up to 30% of infant mortality in different countries.

Symptoms:

Causes:

According to statistics, the main risk factors include: overheating and poor ventilation of the room, smoking in the child’s room, excessively tight swaddling, sleeping on the stomach, too soft a pillow and mattress. According to some pediatricians, the reason for the increase in the number of cases of SIDS - in the tummy position - actually lies in the soft pillow or mattress. They simply “pinch” the child’s nose, blocking his breathing. Therefore, the crib should have a hard, smooth mattress, and it is better to abandon the pillow altogether. But, one way or another, statistics clearly indicate that sleeping on the stomach significantly increases the risk of SIDS: in countries where, traditionally, or as a result of an information campaign, children are placed to sleep on their backs, the lowest percentage of cases of sudden death of babies is recorded.
Risk factors also include: prematurity and low birth weight of the child; young age of mother (up to 17 years); complicated, prolonged or; abortions; multiple births, especially with short time intervals.
Experts believe that most often this is the result of the immaturity of the infant’s neurohumoral system. During this period, children often experience apnea - temporary holding their breath; and if they occur more than once an hour and last longer than 10-15 seconds, you should immediately inform your pediatrician about it.

Another version of SIDS is a violation of the infant’s cardiac activity: various types, even short-term; they can occur even in healthy children. In any such case, you should also immediately consult your pediatrician.

There is an increase in the number of sudden deaths of infants in the autumn-winter period. This may be due to an increase in the number of respiratory viral infections, or a decrease in immunity and the need for increased strain on the adaptive reserves of the child’s body.

Treatment:

It is necessary to know how to provide first aid in case of suffocation - after all, respiratory arrest can also occur due to foreign objects entering the child’s respiratory tract.