Explained | What a new study on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome says about the disease

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.