Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - Incidence

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - Incidence

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the most common cause of death in infants who are 1 month to 1 year old.

SIDS comprises approximately 20%-25% of deaths in infants younger than 1 year.

The incidence rates appear to rise during the winter months.

The majority of the SIDS deaths occur between the ages of 2-4 months, with ninety percent of all cases occurring before six months of age. Incidence rises from zero at birth, is highest between 2–4 months and goes towards zero at one year.

In the United States, a baby dies every three hours due to an unexplained cause or due to suffocation with a soft object.

More male babies succumb to SIDS in comparison to girls. Scientific studies show consistent 50% male excess in SIDS per 1000 live births. In some studies 61% of SIDS cases occur in males.

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A baby being brought up by a poor, unmarried mother has 3 times greater risk of dying due to an unexplained cause than a baby of a married mother.

Afro-Americans have a risk that is 3 times greater than Caucasians.