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Sudden twin infant death on the same day: a case report and review of the literature

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology volume 9, pages 225–230 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a major contributor to infant mortality. The cause of death is unknown: suggested possibilities include cardiovascular disease, anaphylactic shock, and suffocation. The occurrence of simultaneous sudden infant death syndrome is uncommon, such cases being extremely rare in forensic pathologic practice. We report two 10-week-old male twins who appeared well at the time of their evening feeding, yet died while sleeping on their backs. Both infants had petechial hemorrhages on the visceral pleura, epicardial surface of the heart, and thymus gland. Microscopic examination revealed pulmonary edema, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and minor lymphocytic infiltration, again in both infants. In this report, we discuss the risk factors for SIDS, which should be considered individually or in combination as possible causes of death.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Pathology, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, 1347 West Guangfu Road, Shanghai, 200063, People’s Republic of China

    Ping Huang, Zhiqiang Qin, Ningguo Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Donghua Zou & Yijiu Chen

  2. Ningbo Public Security Bureau, 658 Zhongxing Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

    Rongjun Yu

  3. Department of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China

    Shiying Li

Authors
  1. Ping Huang
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  2. Rongjun Yu
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  3. Shiying Li
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  4. Zhiqiang Qin
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  5. Ningguo Liu
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  6. Jianhua Zhang
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  7. Donghua Zou
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  8. Yijiu Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yijiu Chen.

Additional information

D. Zou and Y. Chen contributed equally to this work.

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Huang, P., Yu, R., Li, S. et al. Sudden twin infant death on the same day: a case report and review of the literature. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 9, 225–230 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-013-9429-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-013-9429-3

Keywords

  • Autopsy
  • Forensic pathology
  • Petechial hemorrhage
  • Risk factors
  • Simultaneous sudden infant death syndrome