The Evolving Understanding of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the leading cause for post-neonatal mortality in industrialized nations. Case-control studies have identified risk factors for SUID that have shaped research into studies of causation. Most current hypotheses for the mechanisms for SUID contribute to the "SUID sequence"-hypoxia and/or hypercarbia in sleep to which a vulnerable infant fails to respond adequately and that results in death. Reducing vulnerability in infants and promoting safe sleep for infants is important for prevention and requires knowledge of the prevalence of risk factors within the target population and a culturally sensitive approach. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(8):e278-e283.].