Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) topic includes research on the causes and prevention of sudden death in infants younger than 1 year.

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age that remains unexplained after a complete investigation. A diagnosis of SIDS is made by collecting information, conducting scientific or forensic tests, and talking with parents, other caregivers, and health care providers. If, after this process is complete, there is still no identifiable cause of death, the infant's death might be labeled as SIDS. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but scientists believe that SIDS may result from a combination of genetic changes or brain defects in the infant; development phase; and environmental stressors.