This volume covers aspects of sudden infant and early childhood death, ranging from issues with parental grief, to the most recent theories of brainstem neurotransmitters. It also deals with the changes that have occurred over time with the definitions of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy) and SUDIC (sudden unexpected death in childhood).

The text will be indispensable for SIDS researchers, SIDS organisations, paediatric pathologists, forensic pathologists, paediatricians and families, in addition to residents in training programs that involve paediatrics. It will also be of use to other physicians, lawyers and law enforcement officials who deal with these cases, and should be a useful addition to all medical examiner/forensic, paediatric and pathology departments, hospital and university libraries on a global scale. Given the marked changes that have occurred in the epidemiology and understanding of SIDS and sudden death in the very young over the past decade, a text such as this is very timely and is also urgently needed.

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• 1. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Definitions
  Roger W Byard.
  • Introduction
  • Recent Definitions
  • The San Diego Definition
  • Other Definitions
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 2. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: An Overview
  Jhodie R Duncan and Roger W Byard.
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Incidence
  • Diagnosis
  • Risk Factors for SIDS
  • Mechanisms Underlying SIDS Deaths
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 3. Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood: An Overview
  Elisabeth A Haas.
  • Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Defined
  • Global Perspective
  • Review of the Literature
  • Developments
  • Current Status
  • Future Possibilities
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: History
  Leanne Raven.
  • Introduction
  • Establishment of SIDS Organizations in Australia
  • International SIDS Community
  • Theories and Research Milestones
  • Prevention and “Reduce the Risk” Campaigns
  • Grief and Loss Developments
  • SIDS Community Today
  • SIDS Priorities in the Future
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 5. Responding to Unexpected Child Deaths
  Peter Sidebotham, David Marshall, and Joanna Garstang.
  • Introduction
  • Models of Response
  • The Structure of the Response
  • Family Support
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 6. The Role of Death Review Committees
  Sharyn Watts.
  • Introduction
  • Child Death Review in South Australia
  • The Functions of a Child Death Review Team
  • Contributing to the Prevention of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths
  • Monitoring Trends and Patterns in Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 7. Parental Perspectives
  Joanna Garstang.
  • Introduction
  • Study Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
• 8. Parental Grief
  Richard D Goldstein.
  • Introduction
  • Important Concepts
  • Normal Grief
  • Prolonged Grief Disorder
  • Is Parental Grief Distinct?
  • Considerations Particular to SIDS
  • Next Steps
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 9. Promoting Evidence-Based Public Health Recommendations to Support Reductions in Infant and Child Mortality: The Role of National Scientific Advisory Groups
  Jeanine Young.
  • Introduction
  • Essentials of an Evidence-Based Public Health Approach
  • The Role of Scientific Advisory Groups
  • Supporting Evidence-Based National Safe Sleeping Recommendations: The Australian Experience
  • Red Nose National Scientific Advisory Group: A Case Study
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 10. Risk Factors and Theories
  Rachel Y Moon and Fern R Hauck.
  • Introduction
  • Risk Factors
  • Protective Factors
  • Theories
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
• 11. Shared Sleeping Surfaces and Dangerous Sleeping Environments
  Jeanine Young and Rebecca Shipstone.
  • Introduction
  • Definitions
  • Prevalence of Shared Sleeping
  • Benefits of Shared Sleeping
  • Risks Associated with Shared Sleeping
  • Shared Sleeping Risks in the Absence of Known Hazards
  • Delivering the Best Possible Advice: Risk Minimization versus Risk Elimination
  • Future Directions
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 12. Preventive Strategies for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Peter Sidebotham, Francine Bates, Catherine Ellis, and Lucy Lyus.
  • Introduction
  • Principles of Effective Preventive Strategies
  • Understanding Behavioral Change
  • Current Approaches and Evidence of Effectiveness
  • Approaches Based on Education or Empowerment
  • Approaches based on Engineering, Environmental Modification, and Enforcement
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 13. The Epidemiology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths: Diagnostic Shift and other Temporal Changes
  Carrie K Shapiro-Mendoza, Sharyn Parks, Alexa Erck Lambert, Lena Camperlengo, Carri Cottengim, and Christine Olson.
  • Introduction
  • Current Practice for Coding Cause of Sudden Infant Deaths
  • Historical Trends in SIDS and SUID
  • Diagnostic Shift
  • Recent SIDS and SUID Trends
  • Epidemiology of Unexplained Child Deaths
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 14. Future Directions in Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Research
  Heather E Jeffery.
  • Introduction
  • I. Gaps in Practice
  • II. Advances in the Etiology of SUDI
  • III. Prevention of SUDI
  • IV. Parents and Health Providers
  • V. Summary and Future Directions
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
  • Appendix 14.1
• 15. Observational Investigations from England: The CESDI and SWISS Studies
  Peter S Blair, Anna S Pease, and Peter J Fleming.
  • Introduction
  • The Optimal Study Design
  • The CESDI SUDI Study
  • The SWISS Study
  • Combining Data from the CESDI and SWISS Studies
  • Lessons Learnt for Future Investigations
  • References
• 16. An Australian Perspective
  Jane Freemantle and Louise Ellis.
  • Introduction
  • SUDI, Including SIDS in Australia
  • Sudden Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Infant and Early Childhood Death
  • Future
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 17. A South African Perspective
  Johan J Dempers, Elsie H Burger, Lorraine Du Toit-Prinsloo, and Janette Verster.
  • Introduction
  • Medico-legal Death Investigation in South Africa — Overview
  • The Decade of Awakening
  • Recent Advances in Investigation into Death in Infancy and Childhood in South Africa
  • Challenges to the Investigation of Sudden Childhood Death in South Africa
  • The Road Ahead
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 18. A United Kingdom Perspective
  Joanna Garstang and Anna S Pease.
  • Introduction
  • Incidence
  • Diagnostic Difficulties in the UK
  • Current UK Advice
  • Investigation of SUDI
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 19. A United States Perspective
  Kawai O Tanabe and Fern R Hauck.
  • Introduction
  • SIDS Rates in the US
  • Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleep Environment, Controversies and Barriers to Adherence
  • Interventions to Reduce the Risk of SIDS
  • Laws and Regulations
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
• 20. A Scandinavian Perspective
  Torleiv Ole Rognum, Åshild Vege, Arne Stray-Pedersen, and Lillian Bøylestad.
  • Introduction
  • SIDS Epidemic
  • The SIDS Diagnosis
  • Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants in Demark and Sweden
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 21. Neonatal Monitoring: Prediction of Autonomic Regulation at 1 Month from Newborn Assessments
  Michael M Myers, Nina Burtchen, Maria Ordonez Retamar, Maristella Lucchini, and William P Fifer.
  • Introduction
  • Study Design and Findings
  • Discussion
  • References
• 22. Autonomic Cardiorespiratory Physiology and Arousal of the Fetus and Infant
  Rosemary SC Horne.
  • Introduction
  • Development of Sleep
  • SIDS Risk Factors and Autonomic Control and Arousal
  • SIDS-“Protective” Factors and Autonomic Control and Arousal
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 23. The Role of the Upper Airway in SIDS and Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths and the Importance of External Airway-Protective Behaviors
  Bradley T Thach.
  • Introduction
  • The Role of Upper Airway Infection, Laryngeal Chemoreflex, Apnea, and Brain Cytokines in SUID/SIDS
  • Airway-Protective Behaviors
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 24. The Autopsy and Pathology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Roger W Byard.
  • Introduction
  • Death Scene Investigation
  • Issues with Shared Sleeping
  • Medical History Review
  • Autopsy Findings
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 25. Natural Diseases Causing Sudden Death in Infancy and Early Childhood
  Victoria A Bryant and Neil J Sebire.
  • Introduction
  • Natural Disease and Unexplained Deaths
  • The Respiratory System
  • The Cardiovascular System
  • Natural Intracranial Causes of Sudden Death
  • Intra-abdominal Causes of Sudden Death
  • Disorders of Metabolism
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 26. Brainstem Neuropathology in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Fiona M Bright, Robert Vink, and Roger W Byard.
  • Introduction
  • Underlying Vulnerability and the Brainstem Hypothesis
  • Brainstem Respiratory Network
  • Respiratory Defense Mechanisms and Arousal Failure
  • Possible Multi-Neurotransmitter Homeostatic Network Dysfunction
  • Medullary Serotonergic System
  • Substance P
  • Neurotransmitters and the Critical Development Period
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 27. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Sleep, and the Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Respiratory Network
  Jan-Marino Ramirez, Sanja C Ramirez, and Tatiana M Anderson.
  • Introduction
  • Sleep and its Implications for SIDS
  • The Arousal Response
  • The Control of Breathing and Heart Rate, and the Concept of Brainstem Microcircuits
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgement
  • References
• 28. Neuropathology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Hypothalamus
  Karen A Waters, Nicholas J Hunt, and Rita Machaalani.
  • Introduction
  • Structure and Function of the Hypothalamus
  • Early Neuropathological Studies of the Hypothalamus in SIDS
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 29. Abnormalities of the Hippocampus in Sudden and Unexpected Death in Early Life
  Hannah C Kinney, Robin L Haynes, Dawna D Armstrong, and Richard D Goldstein.
  • Introduction
  • The Limbic Seizure-Related Hypothesis in SIDS
  • The Hippocampus, Regulation of Stress, and the CHN
  • Hippocampal Pathology in SIDS
  • Hippocampal Pathology in Sudden Unexpected Death Beyond Infancy
  • Spectrum of Dentate Anomalies before and after One Year of Life (the Age “Cut-off” for SIDS)
  • The Pathogenesis of Dentate Gyral Abnormalities in SIDS/SUDC
  • Granule Cell Dispersion in the Dentate Gyrus and its Role in the Genesis of Seizures
  • Speculation about the Mechanism(s) of Sudden Death associated with Dentate Gyral Abnormalities in SIDS/SUDC
  • Potential Relationship between Brainstem and Hippocampal Abnormalities in the Same Cases
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 30. Cytokines, Infection, and Immunity
  Siri Hauge Opdal.
  • Introduction
  • Cytokines and Interleukins
  • Interleukin Genotypes and Risk Factors for SIDS
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 31. The Genetics of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Catherine A Brownstein, Annapurna Poduri, Richard D Goldstein, and Ingrid A Holm.
  • Introduction
  • Genetics of SIDS
  • The Role of Genes in Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy and SIDS
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 32. Biomarkers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk and SIDS Death
  Robin L Haynes.
  • Introduction
  • Post-mortem Biomarkers of SIDS
  • Biomarkers of SIDS Risk
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgments
  • References
• 33. Animal Models: Illuminating the Pathogenesis of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Aihua Li, Robert A Darnall, Susan Dymecki, and James C Leiter.
  • Introduction
  • The Triple Risk Model of SIDS — A Guide to Animal Studies
  • The Role of Apneagenic Reflexes in SIDS
  • Arousal Responses
  • Conclusions
  • References

Dr Jhodie R Duncan is a developmental and addiction neuroscientist with over 15 years of postdoctoral experience. She has been a CJ Martin Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, ARC Future Fellow and Florey senior research fellow and lab head at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health.

Professor Roger W Byard is a forensic pathologist and professor of pathology at the University of Adelaide. He has written over 750 papers in peer-reviewed journals, has written/edited five texts (one in 3rd edition; one in 2nd), and has been the editor-in-chief of Forensic Science Medicine and Pathology since 2008.

The University of Adelaide Press publishes peer reviewed scholarly books. It aims to maximise access to the best research by publishing works through the internet as free downloads and for sale as high quality printed volumes.

For the full Cataloguing-in-Publication data please contact the National Library of Australia: ua.vog.aln@pic

Editor: Rebecca Burton

Editorial support: Julia Keller

Book design: Zoë Stokes

Cover design: Emma Spoehr

Cover image: iStockphoto

This book is dedicated to Professor Henry F Krous and Professor Torleiv O Rognum, two men who devoted their professional lives to understanding and eradicating SIDS, SUDI, and SUDC.