- SFG FRC 2027 | Program starts from 18th Dec. 2026 | Admissions open for Entrance Test Click Here to know more →
- Prelims Test Series (PTS) for Prelims 2027 starts 11th Oct. 2026 Click Here to know more →
- [Pre-order] Ethics Redbook 3rd Edition: Delivery starts from 10th October onwards Click Here to Read More →
- 21 Sept. | GS Advance Program (GSAP) for UPSC 2027 Mains starts from 11th Oct. Click Here to Read More →
What is the News?
A team of researchers in Australia has identified a biochemical marker in the blood that could help identify newborn babies at risk for the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?
Sudden infant death syndrome is the unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant. It usually occurs while the baby is asleep, although in rare cases, it can also occur while the child is awake. The condition is also called “Cot Death”.
Newborn babies delivered prematurely or with low weight at birth is believed to be at a greater risk of SIDS.
The exact cause of SIDS is unknown although revelations from the new research look promising.
What is the BChE enzyme responsible for?
BChE enzymes are responsible for sending out signals that make a baby wake up, turn his/her head, or gasp for breath. It is part of the autonomic system and controls functions like blood pressure and breathing.
What are the findings on the link between BChE enzyme and SIDS?
Babies who died of SIDS showed lower levels of the BChE enzyme shortly after birth.
Prematurely-delivered babies have been considered to be at a higher risk for SIDS, although a 1957 study that evaluated BChE in infancy found that there was no difference in the levels of the enzyme in premature and mature newborn infants.
Smoking during pregnancy is also associated with a significant increase in SIDS events.
Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | What a new study on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome says about the disease” published in The Hindu on 17th May 2022.
