[Sudden death syndrome in childhood. Current recommendations for its possible prevention]

The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has a prevalence of 0.31 to 3.5 per 1000 live newborns. It has its peak between two and four months with a greater incidence in the winter season. This syndrome should be diagnosed only after a careful post-mortem examination and a review of the death scene. The babies with SIDS have physiologic differences in their autonomic nervous system when compared with control groups. These babies have a history of excessive room heating and infant bedding. In addition the position most commonly used to put these infants to bed is the prone position. Changes in the way these infants are put to bed, changing from prone to supine position, have led to a significative reduction in SIDS. In order to decrease accidental death by asphyxia, pillows filled with polysterene beads should be avoided.