PEDIATRICS
■ Infants sleeping on excessively soft surface or with objects that may acci-
dentally occlude airway (such as pillows, toys, loose bedding) are particu-
larly susceptible.
■ Excessive ambient heat
■ Prematurity
■ Male sex
■ Infant with history of ALTE (although <10% of infants who die from SIDS
have a history of ALTE)
■ Possibly a family history of SIDS (such as sibling who died from SIDS),
may increase risk; consider child abuse if >2 siblings with SIDS.
TREATMENT
■ Support for family
■ No known treatment other than prevention
■ “Back to sleep”is the recommendation that infants sleep on their
backs. Since the introduction of this campaign, the incidence of SIDS
has decreased by >40%.
■ Encourage maternal smoking cessation.