Sudden infant death syndrome is still quite unknown to researchers, and although several factors associated with it are known, new studies are emerging from time to time that point to new possibilities.
Here we have talked about how sudden death could be related to certain abnormalities in the brain, with nicotine or with colecho, among others.
Now a new investigation carried out by scientists at the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London indicates that some deaths of babies in their cribs, so far without explanation, could be linked to potentially harmful bacteria. The researchers found high levels of certain microorganisms in the cases of hundreds of babies who have died suddenly.
The study, titled "Sudden death in childhood: evidence of infection" ("Sudden unexpected death in infancy: evidence of infection"), has been published in the medical journal The Lancet. The investigation is the result of the post-mortem examination of more than 500 babies who died suddenly. In half of the cases of these sudden deaths the researchers found high levels of potentially dangerous bacteria, in particular, the golden staphylococcus and the and. coli
One theory is that the bacteria may not cause infections, but they could have produced toxins that led to the death of the babies.
Unfortunately, Alan Craft, president of the Royal College of Pediatrics, and Professor of Child Health, says that, even if the theory were correct, these bacteria found are very frequent and are in our body most of the time, so nothing could have been done to prevent these deaths.
In any case, the road is still open to continue investigating this evil and reveal more and more enigmas about it.
