An Epidemiological and Sociological Study of Unexpected Death in Infancy in Nine Areas of Southern England

Abstract

Similar histories of illness were recorded in the three weeks prior to death for children who died unexpectedly in infancy and for live controls in the three weeks prior to interview. Symptom analysis showed that the main difference between the two groups of children was the non-specific behavioural changes manifested in the case infants shortly before death. Underestimation of the severity of symptoms by parents or medical attendants was indicated in a proportion of the cases in all areas. Use of medical services was shown to vary widely between areas with a marked tendency to use hospital rather than general practitioner services in the inner city. The investigation into sudden infant death in one area included periodic progress meetings where possible preventable causes of the deaths were examined and future child health service planning decided in the light of the knowledge gained. Since the study began, the number of sudden infant deaths in this area has dropped significantly. It is suggested that such an enquiry into the circumstances at each death would be a simple method of undertaking a study of sudden death in a locality and possibly lowering the incidence.