Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year old which remains unexplained after a careful review of the clinical history, a death scene investigation and a thorough postmortem examination. In spite of a significant decline in incidence over the past 15 years, it remains the most common cause of death between 1 month and 1 year of age. SIDS cases are rare in the first month of life, peak at 2-3 months of age, then decrease. SIDS rates are much higher in black, American Indian and Alaska native children - 2 to 3 times the national average. Studies have consistently shown the following as independent risk factors for SIDS: prone sleeping position sleeping on a soft surface maternal smoking during pregnancy overheating late or no prenatal care young maternal age preterm birth or low birth weight male gender "SIDS" Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 Next