SIDS, also known as cot death syndrome, a condition that scares parents a lot and whose mechanisms are not yet well known. A new Australian study, however, may have confirmed the underlying cause.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousSIDS, also known as cot death syndrome, a condition that scares parents a lot and whose mechanisms are not yet well known. A new Australian study, however, may have confirmed the underlying cause.
SIDS refers to the sudden death of an infant under 12 months of age whose causes cannot be explained even after a thorough investigation.
New research on this, conducted at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School and published in the Journal of Neuropathology & Neurology Experimental, has found a link between infant death and brain chemistry. The study, the first of its kind, confirmed a link between the serotonin found in the brain and children who died of SIDS.
Fiona Bright, a PhD student at the University of Adelaide, analyzed 41 Australian cases of deaths from SIDS and found surprising abnormalities in the levels of serotonin (the chemical that regulates sleep and controls the cardiovascular and respiratory systems).
The theory was previously demonstrated in an American SIDS study, but it is the first time that Australian SIDS cases have also been analyzed and studied.
“Our research is significant because it has confirmed that the serotonin abnormalities in the brain are definitely linked to cases of SIDS. This helps support the American research findings, ”said Dr. Bright.
The study gives new hope to families who may soon have a real chance to avoid finding themselves in this dramatic situation. It is hoped that the research will be useful in developing a "screening test" to determine the levels of serotonin in the brain of the child at birth and thus prevent a possible premature and sudden death.
The research could therefore represent an important positive step to ensure that the tragedy of cot deaths becomes only a sad memory of the past.
It is no coincidence that this study, funded by River's Gift (an association that supports research on SIDS) was carried out in Australia. Indeed, this nation has infant mortality rates three times higher than those of other developed countries. We had already told you about the idea of giving mothers the Pepi-Pod free of charge, a kind of tray that creates a protective barrier for the child in the Latvian, a concrete means to limit SIDS cases.
While waiting to have some tests that can predict which children are most at risk of SIDS, we remind you of the good rules to follow to avoid as much as possible a possible death in a cot:
- Always let the baby sleep in a supine position (belly up) in the crib or cot, preferably in the same room as the parents
- Place the baby with his feet on the bottom of the crib to prevent him from slipping under the sheets
- Avoid that the environment is too hot, the ideal temperature is around 20 degrees
- Avoid heavy clothes and blankets that make your baby sweat
- Use a mattress that is suitable for a cot and a bed that is not too soft
- Avoid letting your child sleep on sofas, pillows, or with nearby soft toys, heavily padded bumpers, or soft toys
- Don't use the pillow
- Avoid bed sharing
- Do not smoke in the house
- In some countries, the use of a pacifier is recommended
Finally, it has been shown that breastfed babies are less at risk of SIDS.
Read also:
- CO-SLEEPING PREVENTS SIDS: IT IS GOOD FOR BABIES TO STAY IN THE ROOM WITH PARENTS
