Meningitis Due to Hemophilus parainfluenzae-Reply

Abstract

respiration in the normal animal, and normal neonate.We agree with Dr. Shaw that nasal obstruction can lead to death in in¬ fants, but it is less certain that nasal obstruction is a major factor in SID. As we pointed out, the first month of life is the period in which obligatory nose breathing is most prevalent, but this does not match the incidence of SID, which peaks at 3 or 4 months of age. We have additional information, which is to be published in the Jour¬ nal of Pediatrics, in which we sur¬ veyed a large number of infants who were victims of SID. With post¬ mortem radiographs, we were unable to demonstrate nasal obstruction in this group. Although these negative findings do not rule out nasal obstruc¬ tion as an explanation of SID, it must be said that there has been no posi¬ tive evidence for Dr. Shaw's theory in any substantial number of infant vic¬ tims of SID.It is our hope that the modest spec¬ ulation in our paper might stimulate further work in the control of respira¬ tion in the fetus and the neonate, and perhaps demonstrate a link to crib death. We will feel fortunate if we can stimulate as much thought and discussion as did Dr. Shaw with his excellent contributions relating to ob¬ ligatory nose breathing.