Final answer:
The primary cause of infant death during the Renaissance period, including in the Shakespeare household, was the plague. Conditions like malnutrition and infectious diseases like pneumonia were prevalent. Today, conditions such as SIDS remain a leading cause of infant death in developed countries.option b is correct
Step-by-step explanation:
The number one cause of death for infants in the homes during the Renaissance period, including the Shakespeare household, was plague. This period was rampant with contagious diseases, and plague was particularly deadly. Unlike Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy infant, predominantly during sleep, the plague was a well-known infectious illness that caused numerous fatalities.
Infant mortality during the Renaissance was influenced by several factors such as malnutrition, infectious diseases, and hygienic conditions. According to the World Health Organization, in low-income countries even today, the most frequent causes of death in children under five are pneumonia, diarrhea, and other preventable or treatable conditions, which can be addressed with interventions like immunization and adequate nutrition. While SIDS remains a leading cause of infant death in countries like the U.S., in historical Europe, infectious diseases like the plague were significantly more prevalent and deadly.