CAN RISK-FACTORS FOR OVER-HEATING EXPLAIN EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES OF SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

Sudden infant death syndrome is characterized by a number of epidemiol ogical features that have defied simple explanation. Overheating is be lieved to play a role in its causation. Overheating can be caused by c hanges in heat production, changes in insulation of the infant, or cha nges in the external environmental temperature. Risk factors may influ ence any of these variables. A model is proposed which links risk fact ors for overheating to the epidemiological distribution of sudden infa nt death syndrome. This model might account for the frequently reporte d association between formula-feeding and sudden infant death syndrome .