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`How Can I Sure That My New Baby Doesn't A Victim Of SIDS?'

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

Q Two months ago, I had my first child, who appears to be healthy and content. My husband and I try to do everything by the book, but because I'm a first-time mother, I worry a lot, especially about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). How can I make sure my new baby doesn't become a victim of SIDS? E.M., Detroit

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the most common cause of death in infants between 2 weeks and 1 year of age, is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy baby. The cause of SIDS is unknown, doctors say, but it victimizes 3 of every 2,000 infants, almost always when the infants are sleeping.

A Studies indicate that SIDS, which is 2.4 times greater among African-Americans than Whites, is more common among babies who sleep on their stomach than in those who sleep on their back or side. Medical officials say there is a risk that infants may suffocate if placed face down on soft bedding, such as a blanket or a soft foam mattress. They also recommend that no one should smoke in a house where there is a baby.

Researchers say that if all babies slept on their backs perhaps 70 percent of SIDS cases could be prevented. Even so, there is the continuing popular thought among many people--including some day-care providers--that babies sleep better on their stomach. If parents have to leave their infants in the care of others who may be putting their babies to sleep, they are strongly urged to give clear, explicit instructions to baby-sitters and relatives regarding how the infant should be positioned when they lay them down.

PREVENTING LYME DISEASE

Q We live in a wooded area, and with warmer weather coming, we will be spending more time outside. Although we've never had the problem, I'm concerned about Lyme disease that can come from infected ticks. What can we do to avoid the disease, and how does it affect the body? K.G., Hartford, Conn.

A Lyme disease is the country's most common tick-related ailment and has appeared in 47 states, especially those in the Northeast, California and the Midwest. It usually occurs in the summer and early fall, most often in children and young adults who live in wooded areas.

The initial stages of the disease (which if left untreated can cause arthritis and heart problems) is usually marked by an irritating skin rash that is often associated with flulike symptoms--including fatigue, headache, fever and joint and muscle aches.

Standard preventive measures include using tick repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and tucking long pants into socks or boots before going into tick-infested areas. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first vaccine against Lyme disease for use in people 15 to 70 years old. But three injections of the vaccine over a year's time are required for full immunity.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:08 AM