Sudden infant death—focus subject of medico-legal research

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

“…It has been suggested that the respiratory viruses found in about 25% of SIDS cases may cause a rapidly fatal infection or trigger sudden apnea. 39 Allergy to cow's milk or house mites, botulism, spinal hemorrhages, selenium or vitamin E deficiencies, metabolic defects, muscle hypotonia, etc are the other frequently reported factors associated with SIDS.…”

“…38 Another study reported some cases of attempts of suffocation carried out by the mothers to their children with the clinical picture of Munchausen by proxy, where SIDS was projected as the cause of death. 39 These reports not only demand that the forensic investigation of sudden infant deaths include review of clinical history, death scene investigation, as well as a detailed postmortem examination but also of the factors associated with SIDS and infanticide.…”

Virological analysis in the diagnosis of sudden children death: A medico-legal approach

“…As demanded by society, medico-legal institutions have made great efforts to investigate in this area [5]. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the most common cause of post-neonatal infant mortality in the developed world.…”