Sudden infant death syndrome and Canadian Aboriginals: bacteria and infections

Abstract

Aboriginal populations in Canada, America and Australia have higher incidences of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than non-Aboriginal groups. Canadian Aboriginal populations (known also as first nation, native or Indian) experience infant morbidity/mortality rates 3-7 times that of non-Aboriginals, with upper track respiratory infection and SIDS recorded as the leading causes. The aim of this investigation was to examine the home environment of Aboriginal infants, particularly during winter months when respiratory tract infections and SIDS are more common. Environmental bacteria, fungi and air particulates were examined in the residences of Aboriginal infants during visits to individual homes on an Aboriginal reserve. The physical histories of SIDS victims were gathered from medical files. Air and surfaces were sampled by agar strips which were processed by a commercial laboratory. The levels of fungi, bacteria and air particulate rates recorded in the reserve homes of Aboriginal infants registered levels considered to be detrimental to the health of the inhabitants. Such extreme levels could contribute to the high incidence of respiratory disease and SIDS experienced by Canadian Aboriginal infants.

Possible Pathomechanisms of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

“…Pathologic, epidemiologic, and physiologic data indicate that viral infections are important factors triggering acute hypoxia and death in several SIDS victims, more frequently in certain ethnic groups prone to infections, eg, Canadian or Australian Aboriginals, Native Americans 13,14 In many of these children, respiratory tract infections with adenoviruses, 15,16 respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) (apnea may be a presenting symptom in 10% of infants admitted to hospital with RSV infection), 6,17 enteroviruses and parvovirus B19, 16,18 influenza viruses, rhinoviruses, cytomegalovirus, 19 Coxsackie B3 virus, 6,19,20 and Ebstein-Barr viruses 16 were found. These viral infections resulted in a significant increase in the number of T lymphocytes in SIDS myocardial samples, and cases with elevated numbers of leukocytes and macrophages within the myocardium were detected.…”

Synergistic Effect of Influenza A Virus on Endotoxin-Induced Mortality in Rat Pups: A Potential Model for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

“…There is a significant relationship between endotoxin levels in the blood and signs of inflammation in infants dying of SIDS (5). In addition, SIDS is more prevalent in populations in which infections are common, in association with influenza A outbreaks, and during winter months, when viral infections are prominent (6,7).…”

Detection of diverse mould species growing on building materials by gas sensor arrays and pattern recognition

“…Fungal contamination can produce infections, allergies, toxic effects and other symptoms documented in many studies and characteristic for the "sick building syndrome" [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”