Published online July 3, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 1 July 2006, pp. 421-427 (doi:10.1542/10.1542/peds.2006-1245)
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CLINICAL REPORT

Distinguishing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome From Child Abuse Fatalities

American Academy of Pediatrics, Kent P. Hymel, MD and the Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, National Association of Medical Examiners

Fatal child abuse has been mistaken for sudden infant death syndrome. When a healthy infant younger than 1 year dies suddenly and unexpectedly, the cause of death may be certified as sudden infant death syndrome. Sudden infant death syndrome is more common than infanticide. Parents of sudden infant death syndrome victims typically are anxious to provide unlimited information to professionals involved in death investigation or research. They also want and deserve to be approached in a nonaccusatory manner. This clinical report provides professionals with information and suggestions for procedures to help avoid stigmatizing families of sudden infant death syndrome victims while allowing accumulation of appropriate evidence in potential cases of infanticide. This clinical report addresses deficiencies and updates recommendations in the 2001 American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement of the same name.

Key Words: sudden infant death syndrome • SIDS • child abuse

Abbreviations: SIDS—sudden infant death syndrome • ALTE—apparent life-threatening event


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The following policy statements have been revised:

Distinguishing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome From Child Abuse Fatalities

Pediatrics 107: 437-441. [Full Text]

Addendum: Distinguishing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome From Child Abuse Fatalities

Pediatrics 108: 812-812. [Full Text]



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