title: Identification of some infants at immediate risk of dying unexpectedly and justifying intensive study.
abstract: Children who die unexpectedly in infancy often have symptoms of illness before death. Survey data are used to evaluate risks associated with symptoms. There is a 1 in 50 chance of unexpected infant death occurring in the next 9 days when two or more symptoms occur in infants defined to be at high risk by a discriminant score. The score is based on data collected on all infants at birth and by health visitors at 1 month. This system would identify 50% of cot deaths and provides a basis for prospective physiological studies.
mesh_terms: D002667:Child Reactive Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D003448:Crying / Q000502:physiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000401:mortality; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000401:mortality; D004739:England; D004890:Erythema / Q000401:mortality; D005334:Fever / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000401:mortality