There have been studies to show that mutations in cardiac ion channel may put some infants at risk for SIDS.

The actual risk for SIDS in individual infants is also determined by complex interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors.

There appears, for instance, to be an interaction between prone sleep position and impaired respiratory and arousal responsiveness.

No method currently exits to identify future SIDS cases at birth, but it is possible to identify infants at high risk of SIDS based on combinations of established risk factors.

The current challenge is to spread awareness about the condition and the surveillance of SIDS trend in the country.

Dr Anupam Sibal is Senior Consultant, Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indraprastha Apollo, New Delhi

Dr Nishant Wadhwa is Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Indraprastha Apollo,New Delhi

Sids: The Do’s and Don’ts

• Term and pre-term infants should be placed on their back to sleep. There are no adverse health outcomes from the supine sleeping position. Also, do not place babies on their side.

• Infants should sleep in their own crib or bassinet. Placing the crib or bassinet near the mother’s bed will not hamper breast-feeding and contact. Do not put sleeping babies in a bed or sofa or chair with other children. They should not be brought into bed with parents who are exclusively tired or sedated or inebriated.

• Use a firm mattress for the baby’s bed. Waterbeds, sofas, soft mattresses or other soft surfaces should not be used.

... contd.