The current
definition of SIDS is, "the sudden death of an
infant under one year of age which remains
unexplained after a thorough case investigation,
including performance of a complete autopsy,
examination of the death scene, and review of
the clinical history." The real term we are
referring to when we think of SIDS is actually
crib death, or cot death in other
countries. For clarification on SIDS and crib
death, please understand this information from
Dr. Sprott
The term
SIDS was first used by a Dr Beckwith in 1969.
Recently he wrote:
‘‘If a prize were offered for the poorest
definition of a disease or disorder in the
scientific literature, this one would be a
strong contender".
In enlightened societies cot death IS NOT now
known as SIDS. The US is about 10 years behind
the times as regards crib death, because of the
closed-mind attitude of leading so-called
"experts" in this field. They aren't "experts"
at all....ignoramus would describe them!
Crib Death
is not SIDS Crib death is not a syndrome -
the term Sudden Infant Death, commonly referred
to as SIDS, is a scientific and linguistic
misnomer
“Syndrome:
the concurrence of symptoms in a disease; set of
concurrent symptoms characterizing it” (Oxford
Dictionary)
But there are
no symptoms of crib death - the only commonality
is death itself
The coining of this term
was most unfortunate, because it conveyed
the incorrect impression that crib death had a
medical cause, and this misunderstanding has led
to the deaths of tens of thousands of babies
The term
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the acronym
SIDS should be abandoned
