DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2022.v10i04.002

Pages: 458-462

Introduction: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) occurs when a seemingly healthy newborn under the age of one year dies unexpectedly while sleeping. SIDS is often known as crib death because neonates usually die in their cribs. Even after a thorough forensic examination and death site investigation, the general diagnosis of SIDS is made when the cause of infant death cannot be determined. According to the 1969 definition, SIDS is still an excluding diagnosis. Despite the fact that this syndrome has various distinguishing characteristics, such as an age distribution that only affects children under the age of one year and an apparent incidence during sleep, there has been a reluctance to include these characteristics in the classification. The aim of the study was to better understand the risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Pabna Medical College Hospital, Pabna, from March 2020 to April 2021, and the participants of the study were 25 sudden and unidentified infant death cases at the study hospital whose guardians had given authorization for inclusion in the study. Result: The male: female ratio of the present study was 1.27:1. 60% of the participants had died while at home, and no information regarding the activity of infant at time of death was available for 56% of cases. Initial forensic analysis confirmed SIDS in 76% of the cases. Among the SIDS cases, majority had no observable risk factors, but family history of ailments and habits such as heart disorders, respiratory distress and smoking were determined as possible risk factors. Previous history of SIDS in family was also considered as a risk factor. Conclusion: The location of the infants at the time of death is very important in properly determining cause of death. Better observation of the infants can help in conducting a proper forensic analysis.