Citation

Huang P, Yu R, Li S, Qin Z, Liu N, Zhang J, Zou D, Chen Y. Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol. 2013; 9(2): 225-230.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Pathology, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, 1347 West Guangfu Road, Shanghai, 200063, People's Republic of China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12024-013-9429-3

PMID

23526355

Abstract

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a major contributor to infant mortality. The cause of death is unknown: suggested possibilities include cardiovascular disease, anaphylactic shock, and suffocation. The occurrence of simultaneous sudden infant death syndrome is uncommon, such cases being extremely rare in forensic pathologic practice. We report two 10-week-old male twins who appeared well at the time of their evening feeding, yet died while sleeping on their backs. Both infants had petechial hemorrhages on the visceral pleura, epicardial surface of the heart, and thymus gland. Microscopic examination revealed pulmonary edema, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and minor lymphocytic infiltration, again in both infants. In this report, we discuss the risk factors for SIDS, which should be considered individually or in combination as possible causes of death.

Language: en