• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
  • References
  • Programs & Resources
  • Complete Report

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood

Print

Last updated: August 19, 2020
Years published: 2010, 2017, 2020


Acknowledgment

NORD gratefully acknowledges Laura Gould Crandall, MA, Research Scientist and Orrin Devinsky, MD, Professor, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Chief of Service, NYU Epilepsy Service, for assistance in the preparation of this report.


Disease Overview

Summary

Sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) is the sudden death of a child 12 months of age or older that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. These deaths elude our scientific understanding. SUDC cannot be predicted or prevented at this time. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018, 392 children between the ages of 1-18 years died suddenly without a clear cause of death determined. Most of these children were toddlers, aged 1-4 years; an incidence of 1.4 deaths per 100,000 toddler aged children. Research and awareness of SUDC remains limited.

  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Synonyms

  • SUDC
  • SUDIC
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Signs & Symptoms

Nearly all children with SUDC were thought to be sleeping before becoming unresponsive. Most were born as full-term singletons and their development was considered normal. Children were in their state of usual good health prior to death or had mild symptoms of illness such as cold symptoms or fever. Some children with SUDC had a history of febrile seizures, or a family history of febrile seizures.

A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a child that may be caused by a spike in body temperature, often from an infection. Children aged 3 months to 5 or 6 years may have febrile seizures and they occur in 2% to 5% of all children. There is a slight tendency for them to run in families. If a child’s parents, brothers or sisters, or other close relatives have had febrile seizures, the child is a bit more likely to have them.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Causes

By definition, the cause(s) of SUDC are unknown. However, due to the lack of standardizations of death investigations, consideration of undiagnosed cases of cardiac disorders affecting the heart rhythm that are often due to genetic abnormalities, infections, and neurological conditions should be considered and ruled out.

The history of febrile seizures in some children with SUDC, and their family members, demonstrate a possible correlation to sudden unexpected death In epilepsy (SUDEP) defined as the sudden, unexpected, non-traumatic, non-drowning death in an individual with epilepsy, witnessed or unwitnessed, in which the postmortem examination does not reveal an anatomical or toxicological cause for the death. Most children with witnessed SUDEP are associated with a terminal convulsion, called a tonic-clonic seizure.

Examinations of the brains in a subset of children after SUDC reveal subtle abnormal development of an area deep in the temporal lobe. It is unknown whether these are a cause of seizures, a result of past seizures, are a normal variant in development and whether they have a direct association with the death.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Affected populations

Children who die of SUDC are generally toddlers (60%), between 1 and 4 years of age, but older children can be affected. According to the CDC, non-Hispanic black/African American children have a >2-fold risk of SUDC versus non-Hispanic white, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Nearly 90% are born full-term and nearly half are first born.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Diagnosis

SUDC is not a diagnosis but a category of death. SUDC describes the sudden death of a child greater than 12 months of age that has undergone a thorough investigation and does not reveal evidence of an unnatural death. Death investigations also vary widely and therefore the extent to which known causes of death have been ruled should be reviewed.

In 2019, the National Association of Medical Examiners Panel on Sudden Unexpected Death In Pediatrics published national guidelines regarding the investigation, certification and family needs associated with sudden death in children. (https://sudpeds.com/)

Clinical Testing and Work Up
The investigation of the child’s death should be comprehensive including investigation of the scene where the child was found unresponsive, interviews with caregivers, a review of the child medical history and their family medical history, a complete autopsy with ancillary testing as clinically indicated.

SUDC is a multidisciplinary problem and requires coordination among the professionals involved to effectively investigate a case of SUDC and also provide appropriate communication and effective medical follow-up for family members. Families need effective communication in regards to the ramifications of the child’s final cause of death and what screening recommendations are appropriate to consider. Asking your primary care physician to collaborate with the medical examiner or coroner who performed the death investigation can be an excellent way to streamline communication in an emotionally traumatic and confusing situation.

Since genetic disorders can contribute to sudden death, evaluation of family members is indicated. This can include but not limited to inherited heart arrhythmia seizure disorders, and metabolic disorders. It is valuable to confirm a family diagnosis and assess the risk in the living family members following an unexplained death. Clinical evaluation of family members following a sudden death may identify other affected members. First degree relatives (parents and siblings of the person who has died) should speak to their primary physician to obtain a referral to a cardiologist with expertise in electrophysiology and special training to evaluate genetic cardiac disorders and other referrals as clinically indicated.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Standard Therapies

SUDC is a category of death diagnosis of exclusion which means that it is only determined after the death and thorough investigation of the clinical history, scene of death and autopsy reveal no other cause. Because the determination of SUDC is made after death, there is no treatment.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Clinical Trials and Studies

SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative (SUDCRRC)
The purpose of the SUDCRRC is to increase the understanding of the characteristics, circumstances, medical histories and pathologies of children from ages 11 months through 18 years who have died suddenly and unexpectedly, and in some instances, without explanation. The SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative analyzes cases of sudden unexpected deaths in these children to understand risk factors and causes (including genetic studies on the child who died and both parents), and develop preventative measures. The SUDCRRC is available to review cases for evaluation through Dec 2023. For more information: https://sudc.org/research-and-medical-info/sudc-registry-research-collaborative

North American SUDEP Registry
NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
223 East 34th St New York, NY 10016
P: 855-432-8555
https://sudepregistry.org/

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Toll-free: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website:
https://rarediseases.org/living-with-a-rare-disease/find-clinical-trials/

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, in the main, contact:
www.centerwatch.com

For more information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact:
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >
  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple Cause of Death 1999-2018 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2018, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10.html

Declan McGuone, Dominique Leitner, Christopher William, Arline Faustin, Nalin Leelatian, Ross Reichard, Timothy M Shepherd, Matija Snuderl, Laura Crandall, Thomas Wisniewski, Orrin Devinsky, Neuropathologic Changes in Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. nlz136, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/nlz136

Phoon CKL, Halvorsen M, Goldstein DB, et al. Sudden unexpected death in asymptomatic infants due to PPA2 variants. Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2019;e1008.

National Association of Medical Examiners Panel on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics. Unexplained Pediatric Deaths: Investigation, Certification, and Family Needs. Bundock E, Corey T, editors. San Diego: Academic Forensic Pathology International; c2019.

Hoch MJ, Bruno MT, Faustin A, Cruz N, Mogilner AY, Crandall L, Wisniewski T, Devinsky O, Shepherd TM. 3T MRI Whole-Brain Microscopy Discrimination of Subcortical Anatomy, Part 2: Basal Forebrain. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2019 Jul;40(7):1095-1105. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A6088. Epub 2019 Jun 13.PMID: 31196861

Hoch MJ, Bruno MT, Faustin A, Cruz N, Crandall L, Wisniewski T, Devinsky O, Shepherd TM.3T MRI Whole-Brain Microscopy Discrimination of Subcortical Anatomy, Part 1: Brain Stem. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2019 Mar;40(3):401-407. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5956. Epub 2019 Jan 31.PMID: 30705073

Crandall LG, Lee J, Stainman R, Friedman D, Devinsky O., Sudden Deaths in Children: Potential Role of Febrile Seizures and Other Risk Factors, JAMA Open Network, April 2019.

Haas EA. Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood: An Overview. In: Duncan JR, Byard RW, editors. SIDS Sudden Infant and Early Childhood Death: The Past, the Present and the Future. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2018 May. Chapter 3.PMID: 30035956

Crandall L, Devinsky O. Sudden Unexplained Death In Children. The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, Vol 1, September 2017.

Crandall LG; Inexplicable Child Deaths: Medicolegal Death Investigation Resources from the SUDC Foundation and the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2017 Jun;7(2):xxiv-xxvi. doi: 10.1177/192536211700700205. Epub 2017 Jun 1.PMID: 31239984

Ackerman MJ1, Andrew TA2, Baker AM3, Devinsky O4, Downs JC5, Keens T6, Kuntz J7, Lin P1, Lear-Kaul KC8, Reichard R1, Robinson DA9. An association of hippocampal malformations and sudden death? We need more data.Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2016 Jun;12(2):229-31. doi: 10.1007/s12024-016-9765-1. Epub 2016 Mar 26.

Halvorsen M, Petrovski S, Shellhaas R, Tang Y, Crandall L, Goldstein D, Devinsky O. Mosaic mutations in early-onset genetic diseases Genet Med. 2016 Jul;18(7):746-9. doi: 10.1038/gim.2015.155. Epub 2015 Dec 30. PMID: 26716362 Free PMC Article available

Hefti MM, Cryan JB, Haas EA, Chadwick AE, Crandall LA, Trachtenberg FL, Armstrong DD, Grafe M, Krous HF, Kinney HC. Hippocampal malformation associated with sudden death in early childhood: a neuropathologic study: Part 2 of the investigations of The San Diego SUDC Research Project, Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2016 Mar;12(1):14-25. doi: 10.1007/s12024-015-9731-3. Epub 2016 Jan 19. PMID: 26782962

Hefti MM, Kinney HC, Cryan JB, Haas EA, Chadwick AE, Crandall LA, Trachtenberg FL, Armstrong DD, Grafe M, Krous HF. Sudden unexpected death in early childhood: general observations in a series of 151 cases: Part 1 of the investigations of the San Diego SUDC Research Project Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2016 Mar;12(1):4-13. doi: 10.1007/s12024-015-9724-2. Epub 2016 Jan 19. PMID: 26782961 Free PMC Article

Bagnall RD, Weintraub RG, Ingles J, Duflou J, Yeates L, Lam L, Davis AM, Thompson T, Connell V, Wallace J, Naylor C, Crawford J, Love DR, Hallam L, White J, Lawrence C, Lynch M, Morgan N, James P, du Sart D, Puranik R, Langlois N, Vohra J, Winship I, Atherton J, McGaughran J, Skinner JR, Semsarian C. A prospective study of sudden cardiac death among children and young adults.Engl J Med. 2016 Jun 23;374(25):2441-52. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1510687. PMID: 27332903

Hesdorffer DC, Crandall LA, Friedman D, Devinsky O; Sudden unexplained death in childhood: A comparison of cases with and without a febrile seizure history. Epilepsia. 2015 Aug;56(8):1294-300. doi: 10.1111/epi.13066. Epub 2015 Jun 29

Rudd R, Capizzi Marain L, Crandall L. To hold or not to hold: medicolegal death investigation practices during unexpected child death investigations and the experiences of next of kin. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2014 Jun;35(2):132-9.

Rudd, R. & D’Andrea, L. Professional support requirements and grief interventions for parents bereaved by an unexplained death at different time periods in the grief process. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience. 2013;15(1), 51-68.

Treacy A, Cryan J, McGarvey C, Devaney D, Matthews TG. Sudden unexplained death in childhood. An audit of the quality of autopsy reporting. Ir Med J. 2013 Mar;106(3):70-2. PMID: 23951973

McGarvey C, O’Regan M, Cryan J, Treacy A, Hamilton K, Devaney D and Matthews T. Sudden unexplained death in childhood (1–4 years) in Ireland: an epidemiological profile and comparison with SIDS Arch Dis Child 2012 Aug;97(8):692-7. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-301393. Epub 2012 Jun 9.

Ingrid A. Holm MD, MPH, Annapurna Poduri MD, MPH, Laura Crandall PT, MA, Elisabeth Haas MPH, Marjorie R. Grafe MD, PhD, Hannah C. Kinney MD, Henry F. Krous MD. Inheritance of febrile seizures in sudden unexplained death in toddlers. Pediatric Neurology 2012 Apr;46(4):235-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2012.02.007.

Baker AM, Crandall L. To Hold Or Not To Hold. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2009; Dec. 5(4): 321-3. Epub 2009 Nov 13. “To Hold Or Not To Hold”. https://sudc.org/Portals/0/Literature/To_Hold_or_Not_to_Hold_raw_final_webversion.pdf

Hannah C. Kinney, M.D., Amy E. Chadwick, B.A., Laura A. Crandall, M.A., Marjorie Grafe, M.D., Dawna L. Armstrong, M.D., William J. Kupsky, M.D., Felicia L. Trachtenberg, Ph.D., and Henry F. Krous, M.D. Sudden death, febrile seizures, and hippocampal and temporal lobe maldevelopment in toddlers: A new entity. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2009 Jul 16:1. Epub 2009 Jul 16

Krous HF, Wahl C, Chadwick AE. Sudden unexpected death in a toddler with Williams Syndrome. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2008;4(4):240-5. doi: 10.1007/s12024-008-9035-y. Epub 2008 Apr 4.

Kinney HC, Armstrong DL, Chadwick AE, et al. Sudden Death in Toddlers Associated with Developmental Abnormalities of the Hippocampus: a report of five cases. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2007;10:208-223.

Krous H, Chadwick A, Miller D, Crandall L, Kinney H. Sudden death in toddlers with viral meningitis, massive cerebral edema, and neurogenic pulmonary edema and hemorrhage: Report of two cases. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2007;10:463-469.

Masoumi H, Kinney HC, Chadwick AE, Rubio A, Krous HF. Sudden unexpected death in childhood associated with cardiac rhabdomyoma, involuting adrenal ganglioneuroma, and megalencephaly: another expression of tuberous sclerosis? Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2007;10:129-133.

Krous HF, Chadwick AE, Crandall L, Nadeau-Manning. Sudden unexpected death In childhood: A report of 50 Cases. Pediatric Dev Pathol. 2005;8:307-319.

  • < Previous section
  • Next section >

Programs & Resources

RareCare® Assistance Programs

NORD strives to open new assistance programs as funding allows. If we don’t have a program for you now, please continue to check back with us.

Additional Assistance Programs

MedicAlert Assistance Program

NORD and MedicAlert Foundation have teamed up on a new program to provide protection to rare disease patients in emergency situations.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/medicalert-assistance-program/

Rare Disease Educational Support Program

Ensuring that patients and caregivers are armed with the tools they need to live their best lives while managing their rare condition is a vital part of NORD’s mission.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/rare-disease-educational-support/

Rare Caregiver Respite Program

This first-of-its-kind assistance program is designed for caregivers of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/caregiver-respite/

Patient Organizations


National Organization for Rare Disorders