How to use genetic testing after sudden infant death syndrome

Since the early 1990s, the rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has reduced by over 80% in the UK, principally due to public health education regarding safer sleep, in particular the ‘Back-to-Sleep’ campaign, and to a smaller degree the introduction of newborn screening for metabolic conditions.1 2 Despite this, SIDS is still one of the leading causes of postneonatal infant death in developed countries. The triple risk hypothesis states that SIDS occurs due to having (1) a vulnerable infant (2) during a critical development period and (3) a minor exogenous stressor (figure 1). Genetic testing is likely to develop a bigger role in identifying vulnerabilities in the future as research in this field progresses and testing becomes easier.3 Current practice When an infant dies unexpectedly (SUDI), a full review of the clinical history, death scene investigation, clinical investigations (including...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Research in Practice Source Type: research