SIDS: EVERY CAREGIVER'S NIGHTMARE
Written by: Aishat Idowu, RN. You've probably ever heard one or two mothers lament regarding their babies, saying"...and there was nothing wrong with him before he slept, but he just couldn't wake up thereafter". Maybe not in this form exactly, but with a similar kind of expression, all of it referring to the death of a previously healthy infant. Situations like this we say are due to SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS ) . S IDS is also called crib death or cot death and it is the sudden unexplainable death of an infant (1 month to 1 year ). It is the diagnosis made when the death of an infant cannot be ascertained following series of investigations. The mystery behind this condition is yet to be clearly understood and it known to occur more in boys than girls. A good understanding of its possible causes, if known by you as a caregiver/mother will be a great child care asset, giving you an edge over those who don't know. Below are the factors that increase its o...