Sid

Sid is a term that can refer to several different topics. In the context of medicine, it is often used as an acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a condition that causes sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant aged less than a year.

Definition

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death or crib death, is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.

Causes

Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS might be associated with defects in the portion of an infant's brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep.

Risk Factors

There are several factors that may increase a baby's risk of SIDS, including:

• Sleeping on the stomach or side
• Smoking, drinking, or drug use during pregnancy
• Secondhand smoke
• Premature birth
• Being part of a multiple birth
• Poor prenatal care
• Living in poverty

Prevention

While SIDS cannot be completely prevented, there are ways to reduce the risk. These include:

• Placing the baby on his or her back to sleep
• Keeping the crib as bare as possible
• Ensuring the baby is not overheated
• Breastfeeding the baby, if possible
• Keeping the baby's vaccinations up-to-date

See Also

• Infant mortality
• Child health
• Pediatrics

References

Sid Resources
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