Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood

Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood (SUDC) is the death of a child over the age of 12 months which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation and autopsy. There has not been enough research to identify risk factors, common characteristics, or prevention strategies for SUDC.

Background

SUDC is similar in concept to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Like SIDS, SUDC is a diagnosis of exclusion, the concrete symptom of both being death. However, SIDS is a diagnosis specifically for infants under the age of 12 months while SUDC is a diagnosis for children 12 months and older. As the causes of both are still unknown, it is not yet possible to determine whether or not they are caused by the same factors.

At the SIDS Alliance national convention in Atlanta, GA in 1999 Dr Henry Krous gave a presentation titles "Post-Infancy SIDS- Is it on the rise?" This led to the beginning of the San Diego SUDC Research Project. The first definition of SUDC was published in 2005 in Pediatric and Developmental Pathology.

Hypotheses

Dr. Weese-Mayer, SIDS researcher at Rush University Medical Center, said she wants to explore a possible connection between SUDC and a congenital syndrome that prevents the body from being able to breathe normally, called Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome.

Researchers in Boston, MA are exploring a possible connection between sudden unexplained death in toddlers, febrile seizures, and hippocampal anomalies.

Epidemiology

SUDC is rare, with a reported incidence in the United States of 1.2 deaths per 100,000 children, compared to 54 deaths per 100,000 live births for SIDS.

SUDC deaths have occurred at the following sites:

• Death at home, history provided: 79%
• Crib or bassinet: 54%
• Adult bed: 36%

The placed and found positions were as follows:

• Placed supine, side, prone*: 10%, 2%, 3%
• Found prone: 89%
• Found face position: down, side: 10%, 8%
• Co-sleeping, sweating when found: 3%, 1%

_{*applies only to youngest children}