Question

A teenage mother gives birth to a relatively healthy baby that experiences 3 weeks after the birth crib death. What might have most probably caused this problem?

A. Aspirin use
B. Rubella
C. AIDS
D. Barbiturates"

Answer 1

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby, with risk factors including secondhand smoke exposure and prone sleeping position. Rubella, while a teratogen, is not directly linked to SIDS post-birth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Crib death, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby typically during sleep. While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, there are several risk factors associated with it. These include male sex, pre-term birth, low birth weight, exposure to secondhand smoke, and sleeping on the stomach. None of the options given in the question (aspirin use, rubella, AIDS, barbiturates) are directly linked to crib death.

However, exposure to teratogens such as drugs and alcohol during pregnancy can contribute to conditions that elevate the risk of SIDS. For instance, maternal smoking is significantly associated with SIDS, possibly due to the competitive binding of carbon monoxide with hemoglobin or other harmful components in cigarette smoke. Rubella can lead to congenital defects if a woman is infected during pregnancy, but it does not directly cause SIDS post-birth. It's important to focus on preventive measures such as placing infants on their back to sleep, avoiding pillows and blankets in the crib, and reducing exposure to smoke to lessen the risk of SIDS.