Crib Death : Sudden Unexplained Death of Infants - the Pathologist's Viewpoint

Crib death (SIDS) is the most frequent cause of death for infants during the first year.

A systematic study of the autonomic nervous system and cardiac system has been performed on a large number of infants and fetuses who died suddenly and unexpectedly, as well as in age-matched control cases.

The neurological and cardiac findings are described here, and the relationship between SIDS and unexplained fetal death is discussed.