Abstract
Of a population of 9856 children followed up from birth, 9251 of whom underwent 24 hour tape recordings of electrocardiograms and abdominal wall breathing movements during early infancy, five died suddenly and unexpectedly at home at ages ranging from 16 months to 4 years. Postmortem examination, including full histological and microbiological investigations. failed to identify abnormalities ordinarily associated with death in all five cases. Two of the children were known to have had frequent cyanotic episodes and died during these events. In the three remaining cases there was no previous history of cyanotic or apnoeic episodes. The death of one of these three children was seen by his parents and the clinical features suggested that apnoea rather than a cardiac arrhythmia was the primary mechanism for his death. As in infancy, sudden and unexpected death for which no adequate cause is found at necropsy seems to constitute a major component of mortality between 1 and 5 years.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- GAUK E. W., KIDD L., PRICHARD J. S. Mechanism of seizures associated with breath-holding spells. N Engl J Med. 1963 Jun 27;268:1436–1441. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196306272682603. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Guilleminault C., Ariagno R. L., Forno L. S., Nagel L., Baldwin R., Owen M. Obstructive sleep apnea and near miss for SIDS: I. Report of an infant with sudden death. Pediatrics. 1979 Jun;63(6):837–843. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Identification of infants destined to die unexpectedly during infancy: evaluation of predictive importance of prolonged apnoea and disorders of cardiac rhythm or conduction. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983 Apr 2;286(6371):1092–1096. doi: 10.1136/bmj.286.6371.1092. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lombroso C. T., Lerman P. Breathholding spells (cyanotic and pallid infantile syncope). Pediatrics. 1967 Apr;39(4):563–581. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mansfield L. E., Stein M. R. Gastroesophageal reflux and asthma: a possible reflex mechanism. Ann Allergy. 1978 Oct;41(4):224–226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Richards J. M., Alexander J. R., Shinebourne E. A., de Swiet M., Wilson A. J., Southall D. P. Sequential 22-hour profiles of breathing patterns and heart rate in 110 full-term infants during their first 6 months of life. Pediatrics. 1984 Nov;74(5):763–777. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schwartz M. Z., Filler R. M. Tracheal compression as a cause of apnea following repair of tracheoesophageal fistula: treatment by aortopexy. J Pediatr Surg. 1980 Dec;15(6):842–848. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3468(80)80290-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Southall D. P., Richards J. M., Stebbens V., Wilson A. J., Taylor V., Alexander J. R. Cardiorespiratory function in 16 full-term infants with sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatrics. 1986 Nov;78(5):787–796. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Southall D. P., Talbert D. G., Johnson P., Morley C. J., Salmons S., Miller J., Helms P. J. Prolonged expiratory apnoea: a disorder resulting in episodes of severe arterial hypoxaemia in infants and young children. Lancet. 1985 Sep 14;2(8455):571–577. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(85)90583-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stephenson J. B. Reflex anoxic seizures ('white breath-holding'): nonepileptic vagal attacks. Arch Dis Child. 1978 Mar;53(3):193–200. doi: 10.1136/adc.53.3.193. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Watanabe K., Hara K., Hakamada S., Negoro T., Sugiura M., Matsumoto A., Maehara M. Seizures with apnea in children. Pediatrics. 1982 Jul;70(1):87–90. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wilson A. J., Stevens V., Franks C. I., Alexander J., Southall D. P. Respiratory and heart rate patterns in infants destined to be victims of sudden infant death syndrome: average rates and their variability measured over 24 hours. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Feb 16;290(6467):497–501. doi: 10.1136/bmj.290.6467.497. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]