[Risk of sudden infant death: recommendation for an early detection and prevention program].

The cause of sudden infant death syndrome is still unknown. Therefore, screening systems for its early diagnosis must refer to factors likely involved the multifactorial origin of this syndrome. In this paper a SIDS prevention program is presented. Children with a history of high risk for SIDS were polysomnographically examined. Particularly the respiration pattern was investigated. If there was a demonstrable disturbance of respiration control the children were prophylactically treated with aminophylline.