Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome (SUDC) is the sudden and unexpected death of a child over the age of twelve months, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted. This must include: examination of the death scene, performance of a complete autopsy, and a review of the child and family’s medical history. A diagnosis of SUDC is given when all known and possible causes of death have been ruled out.
SUDC is not new, but it is very rare with a reported incidence in the United States of 1.3 deaths per 100,000 children. Very little information is known about SUDC, but like SIDS it is currently unpredictable and unpreventable.
However, research is currently being conducted in the United States by Dr Henry Krous, Director of Pathology, Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Professor of Pathology & Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Director of the San Diego SIDS/SUDC Research Project.
For more information on SUDC and the research currently being conducted, please visit their website at www.sudc.org.
For more information on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, please visit the website at www.sidscanada.org.
Donations made are helping to provide funding for research into SIDS and SUDC, as well as helping families affected by these horrible syndromes. Donations can be made through CanadaHelps.org at http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=15109 or directly through SIDS Canada at the following address:
60 James Street, Suite 403
St. Catharines, ON
CA
L2R 7E7
To try to bring awareness to SUDC in the community, the following article was published in the Sherwood Park newspaper.
Jacob Heit – Sherwood Park News