Mystery Child Illness Solved? – A Scientific Breakthrough!
(UnitedVoice.com) – An estimated 2,300 babies die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) each year. For decades, doctors have been unable to figure out why some infants die without warning, but a group of Australian researchers may have finally discovered new information that could help parents.
Researchers at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead believe they have found the first biochemical marker to help identify babies at a higher risk of death. Dr. Carmel Harrington led the research team, and it was a very personal experience for her because she lost a child to SIDS just before his second birthday.
A team of Australian researchers have identified a biochemical marker in the blood that could help identify newborn babies at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a breakthrough they said creates an avenue to tragedy-preventing interventions.https://t.co/4W1H4nhycj
— Newsmax (@newsmax) May 13, 2022
According to Fox News, the Australian team analyzed 722 dried blood spots taken from babies as part of a newborn screening process. Then they studied the levels of an enzyme called butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). They measured the levels in 10 living babies and 10 deceased babies of the same gender with the same birthdates. The researchers discovered lower levels of BChE in the infants who died from SIDS compared to both the living group and another group of children who died from other causes.
Harrington explained babies have a mechanism to let people know when they’re in distress. Generally, when they are “confronted with a life-threatening situation,” they will cry out. But babies with low levels of BChE don’t have the “same robust arousal response.”
While the study seems promising, some doctors don’t believe it’s the breakthrough the press is making it out to be.
Hi all, as someone who has worked to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs) for years. this new study seems to be making the rounds as a "breakthrough" with an enzyme that can predict Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): https://t.co/QaBmt7aECS
— Scott Krugman, MD (@Dr_ScottK) May 13, 2022
Regardless, everyone can agree that each new bit of information brings the world one step closer to possibly finding a cure.
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