Risk Factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
| About risk factors: Risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center. |
Risk factor list: The list of risk factors mentioned for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in various sources includes:
- Sleeping on stomach - because this reduces oxygen due to rebreathing exhaled air
- Overheating of the baby
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Passive cigarette smoke
- Smoking during first year of infant's life
- Prematurity
- Low birth weight
- Poor prenatal care
- Young mothers - under 20 years of age at first pregnancy.
- Respiratory infections
- Previous episode of stopping breathing
- Apnea
- Family history of SIDS
- African Americans
- Native Indians
- Bottle-feeding
Last revision: June 18, 2003
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