Sudden unexpected infant deaths associated with car seats.

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

Department of Histopathology, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK,

Published: June 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency, circumstances, demographics, and causes of death of infants dying while seated in car safety seats. A retrospective review of a pediatric autopsy database at a specialist center over a 16-year period was undertaken to identify any infant deaths (aged <1 year), in whom death occurred while seated in a car safety seat. Fourteen car seat-associated deaths were identified from a total of 1,465 coronial infant autopsies (0.96 %). Four involved infants were being appropriately transported in the car seat, all of whom had a medical underlying cause of death (one infection and three congenital heart disease). The majority (10 cases; 70 %) occurred while car seats were being inappropriately used, outside of the car, including as an alternative to a cot or high-chair. Five of these infants died of explained causes, but four deaths remained unexplained after autopsy, and in one no cause of death was available. There were no cases of previously healthy infants dying unexpectedly in a car seat when it was being used appropriately, and in this series there were no cases of traumatic death associated with car seats, either during road traffic accidents, or from falling or being suspended from a car seat. Infant deaths in car seats are rare. These data support the recommendation that car seats be used only for transport and not as alternatives for cots or high-chairs. More research is required to investigate the effect of travel in car seats on infants with underlying conditions. There appears to be no increased risk of unexpected deaths of healthy infants transported appropriately in car seats.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12024-013-9524-5DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

infant deaths
8
sudden unexpected
4
unexpected infant
4
deaths associated
4
associated car
4
car seats
4
seats purpose
4
purpose study
4
study investigate
4
investigate frequency
4

Similar Publications

Comparative efficacy and safety of pulmonary surfactant delivery strategies in neonatal RDS: a network meta-analysis.

BMC Pulm Med

December 2024

Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400,014, China.

Purpose: To compare five pulmonary surfactant (PS) administration strategies for neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), including intubation-surfactant-extubation (InSurE), thin catheter administration, laryngeal mask airway (LMA), surfactant nebulization (SN), and usual care, with a particular emphasis on the comparison of the LMA and SN with other strategies.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases up to November 2023. Two authors independently conducted data extraction, and assessed bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Despite recent improvements in the overall health status of Nepal's population, newborn morbidities and mortalities have remained a challenge. This study explores the situation and care strategies for newborn health problems in the Gandaki Province of Nepal.

Methods: This is a retrospective hospital records analysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in children and adolescents, with a significant concentration in low and middle-income countries. Previous research has identified disparities in cancer incidence and mortality based on a country's level of development. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region comprises of countries with heterogeneous income and development levels.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Paternal Social Determinants of Childhood Mortality in Zimbabwe.

Ann Glob Health

December 2024

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa.

In Zimbabwe, studies have mainly focused on child and maternal factors contributing to under‑5‑year mortality, and little has been published concerning the paternal social determinants, which are also important. The goal of this paper is to investigate the paternal social determinants of infant and childhood mortality in Zimbabwe. The study analyzed cross‑sectional secondary data from the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) 2015 to investigate paternal determinants of infant and child mortality.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The World Health Organization recommends a cesarean delivery rate of 5-15%, which is thought to be within the range that can reduce infant morbidity and mortality. Various investigations have shown that those poor newborn outcomes are influenced by a variety of maternal and fetal factors and are more prevalent in emergencies than planned cesarean deliveries. Ethiopia is one of the five nations that account for 50% of all neonatal fatalities worldwide.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!