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Cot Death

Medical Questions » Cot Death
Name: Cot Death
Also known as: SIDS; Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden unexpected death of an apparently normal healthy child in whom a subsequent detailed post-mortem examination reveals no cause for the death. Affects two out of every 1000 children between the ages of one month and one year.
Causes of Cot Death
Unknown, but there are many theories. It is not infectious or contagious, nor are they due to suffocation, choking or allergies. Occurs in both bottle and breast fed babies and there is no relationship between immunization and cot death. No evidence that vitamins, dietary supplements or any medication can prevent the syndrome. If one baby in a family dies from cot death, there is some evidence that subsequent babies are at a higher risk. Babies who sleep face down are more susceptible, and it is strongly recommended that babies should never be placed on their stomachs to sleep. Another theory implicates high body temperatures due to over wrapping or dressing a baby, so that it cannot sweat effectively.
Symptoms of Cot Death
A baby is put to bed and some hours later is found dead. There is no evidence of disturbed sleep and no cry is heard.
Tests for Cot Death
Any tests performed before death are normal, and autopsy results are normal.
Treatment for Cot Death
Imperative that parents receive adequate and immediate counseling by .trained professionals as they develop an acute sense of guilt, thinking that they are in some way responsible, and fear that someone will blame them for the death of their child due to neglect or mistreatment, but this is not so. Other children in the family will also be affected because they are often unable to understand or accept the tragedy. Some parents have found their child on the verge of death, lying blue in the cot and not breathing, and rousing them has started breathing again. After such an event, these babies can be monitored by a sensing device that sounds an alarm if breathing stops for more than a few seconds. Only a very select group of infants require this type of care.
Complications of Cot Death of its treatment
None.
Likely Outcome of Cot Death
None.
       
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