[Space-time clustering of sudden infant death in France from 1981 to 1986].

In tempered countries, higher sudden infant death rates are observed during winters, which is in favor of an infectious factor in the etiology. According to the geographic regions, the rates of SIDS are showing a downward gradient from the north of France to the south. In an attempt to assess the infectious hypothesis, we carried out a research about space-time clusters of Sudden infant deaths. The Knox's méthode was used with data of the medical causes of death registered in France from 1981-82 to 1985-86, by areas. Clusters were found in several regions, but they are moving from one year to another. The interpretation of these findings remains difficult because of the large number of tests.