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No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Heat stress and hyperthermia are common findings in sudden infant death syndrome SIDS victims. It has been suggested that thermal stress can increase the risk of SIDS directly via lethal hyperthermia or indirectly by altering autonomic functions.
Major changes in sleep, thermoregulation, cardiovascular function, and the emergence of circadian functions occur at the age at which the risk of SIDS peaks—explaining the greater vulnerability at this stage of development.
Here, we review the literature data on i heat stress and hyperthermia as direct risk factors for SIDS, and ii the indirect effects of thermal loads on vital physiological functions. Various situations leading to thermal stress i. Hyperthermia mainly results from excessive clothing and bedding insulation with regard to the ambient thermal conditions.
The appropriate amount of clothing and bedding thermal insulation for homeothermia requires further research. The prone position and bed-sharing do not have major thermal impacts; the elevated risk of SIDS in these situations cannot be explained solely by thermal factors.
