Sudden unexpected death vaccination in infants under 3 months of age and vaccination status - a case-control study

Aims To determine whether DTPP + Hib vaccination (diphtheria. tetanus, pert ussis, poliomyelitis +/- haemophilus) increased the risk of sudden unexpect ed death (SUD) in children under 3 months of age. Methods We conducted a multicentre case-control study in the 28 French 'SID S Centers'. Case selection was based on death labelled sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) of an infant aged between 30 and 90 days. Three living cont rols were selected, matched for sex, gestational age and born immediately a fter the victim in the same maternity unit. Results We identified 114 cases of SUD aged between 30 and 90 clays and 341 live controls matched for age and sex and born in the same maternity unit as the case. DTPP +/- Hib immunization did not increase the risk of SUD (OR 1.08) (95% CI 0.49, 2.36) in children under 3 months of age when adjusted for sleeping position, illness in the week before death, maternal tobacco c onsumption, birth weight, type of mattress, breastfeeding and sex. However, low birth-weight (6.53 [2.29, 18.9]), multiple birth (5.1 [1.76, 15.13]). no breastfeeding (1.77 [1.1. 2.85)] prone sleeping position (9.8 [5, 8, 18, 9]), soft mattress (3.26 [1.69, 6.29]). recent illness (3.44 [1.84, 6.41]) and parental smoking (1.74 [1.2, 2.96]) were confirmed as risk factors in early SIDS. Conclusions DTPP +/- Hib immunization is not a risk factor for early SUD. I n this population, we found the same risk factors as described for SIDS.