Pediatric Nursing Demystified

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

What Went Wrong?

No one cause has been identified for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

though several risk factors have been noted. The incidence of SIDS often

peaks between 2-4 months of age with less than 5% of cases happening after

6 months of age. Breast fed infants have lower incidence of SIDS and the risk

factors identified for SIDS occurence include:

Sleeping on abdomen or with pillows or other soft materials around that

could suffocate an infant

Low birth weight infants

Infants with low Apgar scores

Exposure to tobacco smoke

Respiratory disorders such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Maternal habits such as smoking or drug use during pregnancy

Central Nervous system abnormalities

Male gender

Possibly higher incidence in siblings of SIDS victims

Signs and Symptoms

Unexplained death that occurs suddenly in an infant younger than one

year of age

Blood-tinged frothy fluid in mouth and nose

Wet diaper that is full of stool indicating a devastating death experience

Bedding may be greatly disturbed

Test Results

Intrathoracic hemorrhage and pulmonary edema noted on autopsy

Treatment

Avoid blaming or declaring that abuse, neglect, or wrong activity has

occurred:

Provide support to parents and family

Autopsy will be ordered and performed

Nursing Interventions

Parent and family discharge teaching after the birth of a child, particularly

the birth of a sibling of a SIDS victim, related to methods of decreasing

the risk factors for SIDS :

• Stress “Back to Sleep” for infants to reinforce positioning of infant


• Encourage removing pillows and loose linen from infant sleepingarea


• Encourage smoking cessation prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy,
  and after pregnancy in any area that would allow newborn exposure
  to smoke

4

3

CHAPTER 5/ Respiratory Conditions^87