Abstract

GIL, Leonardo et al. Investigation of the causes of infant sudden unexpected death in children younger than one year in Bariloche city and surrounding areas. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2008, vol.106, n.6, pp.518-523. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. In the beginning of 2002 there were an unusually high number of sudden unexpected infant deaths. A prospective study was started to determine the cause of unexpected deaths in infants younger than 1 year. Aims. Investigate the possible causes of sudden and unexpected death in infants of Bariloche and surrounding areas, using a protocol created for that purpose. Methods. All infants under 1 year of age who died unexpectedly between May 2002 and April 2007 were studied. A complete physical examination, a thorough interrogation to the parents and an autopsy were performed. According to the findings a definitive diagnosis was made on each case. Results. During the study period 10 infants younger than 1 year died. One case was excluded because the autopsy could not be done. The mean age was 74 days, 6 were males. All died while sleeping and no sign of disease were noticed in any case. In 6 cases, the autopsy findings explained the death. In the 3 others no cause for the death was found. Conclusions. The implementation of this protocol allowed to find out the cause of death in 6 cases, that could not have been achieved without the autopsy.

Keywords : Sudden infant death syndrome; Sudden unexpected death in infancy; Multi-professional approach; Classification of infant deaths; Autopsy.

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