Mechanisms of sudden infant death and the contamination of inspired air with exhaled air.
The physiological effects on an infant of repeatedly sleeping in an environment consisting of a mixture of exhaled air and fresh air is examined. It is found that adaptation can be predicted. A possible outcome of the adaptation is shown to be the development of hypoxia when the conditions change during sleep from a state with carbon dioxide contamination of inspired air to one without. This hypoxia can be associated with apnoea: this apnoea can provide an explanation for some instances of sudden infant death. This explanation is consistent with the known epidemiology and environmental associations of a proportion of sudden infant death syndrome. Safety precautions for the prevention of re-breathing are given.
Corbyn
J A
JA
Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Western Australia.
D000388:Air; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011693:Purpura; D012119:Respiration; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen