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Investigation of sudden infant deaths in the State of Maryland (1990-2000).
- Source :
-
Forensic science international [Forensic Sci Int] 2005 Mar 10; Vol. 148 (2-3), pp. 85-92. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has recorded a significant decline in the deaths of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the state of Maryland since 1994. However, infants who died of accidental or non-accidental injuries remained consistent during the same time period. This report focuses on the epidemiological characteristics and scene investigation findings of infant victims who died suddenly and unexpectedly in Maryland between 1990 and 2000. A retrospective study of OCME cases between 1990 and 2000 yielded a total of 1619 infant fatalities. 802 infant deaths were determined to be SIDS, which represented 50% of the total infant deaths in our study population. Five hundred and twenty-three (31.8%) deaths were due to natural diseases, 128 (7.9%) deaths were accidents, and 74 (4.6%) were homicides. The manner of death could not be determined after a thorough scene investigation, review of history and a complete postmortem examination in 92 (5.7%) infants. SIDS deaths most often involved infants who were male and black. The peak incidence of SIDS was between 2 and 4 months of age. The majority of SIDS infants (60%) were found unresponsive on their stomach. Among SIDS infants, 269 (33.4%) were found in bed with another person or persons (bed sharing). Of the bed-sharing SIDS cases, 182 (68%) were African-American. In the past 11 years, 52 infants died of asphyxia due to unsafe sleeping environment, such as defective cribs, ill-fitting mattresses, inappropriate bedding materials. Of the 74 homicide victims, 53 (70%) involved infants less than 6 months of age. Twenty (27%) exhibited the classical abuse syndrome characterized by repeated acts of trauma to the infants.
- Subjects :
- Accidents, Home mortality
Age Distribution
Asphyxia mortality
Beds
Cause of Death
Child Abuse statistics & numerical data
Female
Forensic Medicine
Homicide statistics & numerical data
Humans
Infant
Infant Equipment
Male
Maryland epidemiology
Prone Position
Retrospective Studies
Sudden Infant Death ethnology
Supine Position
Sudden Infant Death epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0379-0738
- Volume :
- 148
- Issue :
- 2-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Forensic science international
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15639601
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.01.021