Sudden infant death syndrome in south east Scotland.

Three hundred and fifty eight infants from south east Scotland who died suddenly were classified into four groups. Categories for these groups ranged from where a definite cause of death had been recorded to where no explanation had been provided and no associated disorder was discovered (SIDS). Our results supported the view that there are few differences in the history of cases certified as SIDS and other cases reported as dying suddenly but with an explanation. Groups that most closely matched the SIDS definition employed were reported to be healthier throughout life and freer from illness in the 48 hours before death. From the findings of this study the 'true' SIDS group did not appear as an 'at risk' population. The study group as a whole was not marked by social deprivation, poor mothering, or less privileged families. The importance of intensive investigation, including postmortem examination was emphasised, as misdiagnosis may give a 'falsely' inflated picture of the incidence of the syndrome and could cause unnecessary anxiety.

A study of the sudden infant death syndrome by age.

Data from 201 infants in South East Scotland certified at death as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were analysed to determine whether the cases in the younger age groups at death (4-19 weeks) differed from those in the older group (19-52 weeks) on a number of background, developmental and medical variables frequently associated with SIDS in research findings. Some of the findings of the study were contrary to much of the research on SIDS in general. While some factors commonly associated with SIDS were found in both groups the 'typical' pattern presented in SIDS in the literature was more strongly associated with the older group. Marked differences between the two age groupings at death raise questions concerning those aspects of causation and aetiology that may go undetected if this distinction is not made during the analysis of SIDS information.