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S M Beal

Publications and source records attributed to S M Beal.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Siblings of sudden infant death syndrome victims.

The overall low recurrence rate of SIDS (< 2%) and the lack of concordance in twins are against SIDS being a genetic disorder. The most likely explanations for an increased incidence in siblings are that SIDS constitutes a mixed group of disorders that includes some genetic diseases and some disorders that are known to be recurrent but not genetic, and that some recurrences occur in families in whose lives there is severe deprivation, with many risk factors for SIDS, and in other families whose infant care practices, while not being overtly wrong, increase the risk of SIDS. With improving identification and management of these disorders and risk factors, it is expected that the incidence of SIDS, and, particularly, recurrent incidence in a family, will decrease. The best advice that can be given to families who have had an infant die from SIDS is that for most families the risk of another death from SIDS is very low (< 1%) and that if SIDS does recur, there will not be a prolonged period of suffering for the child. With this information and the recognition by most families that they do not regret having had the child who died, most families are prepared to welcome another pregnancy.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1991

An overview of retrospective case-control studies investigating the relationship between prone sleeping position and SIDS.

A critical overview of 19 case-control studies that have investigated the relationship between prone sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is presented. Issues relating to the non-comparability of the studies are described in terms of: (i) case definition; (ii) selection of controls; (iii) quality of the sleeping position data; (iv) recall bias; and (v) adjustment for confounding factors. All studies showed a positive association (2 out of the 19 studies were not significant) between prone sleeping position and SIDS. Meta-analysis techniques applied to six of these studies, based on 'usual' sleeping position in cases and population representative controls, has confirmed an overall higher risk of SIDS in infants who usually sleep prone. The most common odds ratio for an association between prone sleeping position and SIDS was 2.72 (95% confidence interval 2.27-3.26). The extent to which the methodological problems of retrospective case-control studies interfere with our interpretations of this association are discussed.

Bias↗
PubMed1990

SIDS and immunization.

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Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine↗
PubMed1988

Recurrence incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.

The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) between birth and 2 years of age in South Australia was found to be 2.1/1000 live births. The incidence in previous siblings was 10 times that expected, in second degree relatives five times, and in third degree relatives four times that expected for the community. The minimum incidence in the next subsequent sibling was five times that expected. Except for one family in which both twins died during the same night, the surviving twin has never died (23 infants). The incidence of SIDS in adopted infants was similar to the incidence in natural born infants. Families in which two or more siblings died from SIDS differed from families in which only one infant died from SIDS in several ways. More infants were over 12 months old, and the mothers had an increased incidence of previous miscarriage and threatened miscarriage during the pregnancy with the infant who died. In one family both infants had bronchomalacia, and two families were severely socially deprived. For most families (92%) in which an infant died from SIDS the risk of recurrence is small (less that twice the expected risk). We have identified a small subgroup (8%) with a significantly increased risk of recurrence.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1986

Sudden infant death syndrome: epidemiological comparisons between South Australia and communities with a different incidence.

Comparison of perinatal, environmental and infant care factors in communities with different Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) incidences could reveal ways of reducing SIDS frequency in the higher incidence community. The incidence of SIDS in Sweden is much lower than that in Adelaide. Several factors known to be significant in SIDS are less common in Sweden: teenage mothers, low birthweight and the failure to immunize infants. The most striking difference is the absence of the winter peak in Sweden. In Sweden almost every infant sleeps in a heated environment in winter, whereas in Adelaide most do not. This report discusses ways in which the Adelaide winter peak may be avoided. There is a lower incidence of SIDS in communities that invariably use the supine sleeping position for infants than in those who do not. Abandoning prone sleeping for infants in Adelaide should reduce the incidence of SIDS.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Sudden infant death syndrome.

The death of an infant has always resulted in grief and distress to the family involved. When this death occurs in an apparently healthy infant without warning and for no apparent reason, the grief can be magnified and complicated by feelings of confusion, self-recrimination, guilt and fear. Some of these complications can be avoided by early and adequate explanation, and the assurance that while the specific cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is not known, a great deal is known about the condition and this information is available to parents.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Bioavailability of phenytoin from various pharmaceutical preparations in children.

In children, the blood level of phenytoin was found to be significantly higher when 100 mg capsules rather than 100 mg tablets were administered. When, on the other hand, 30 mg capsules and tablets were compared; the situation was reversed; tablets produced significantly higher blood levels of phenytoin than did the capsules. The significance and possible explantation of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗