Sudden death in infancy in Inner North London.

All cases of sudden infant death occurring over a 2-yr period in Inner North London were subjected to pathological and sociological analysis, using detailed expert interviewing of the mother soon after the event by doctors and Health Visitors. Of the cases showing no cause of death at autopsy (Cot Death) the great majority were found subsequently to have microscopic pathology sufficient to cause death, mainly respiratory tract inflammation. In addition, the majority of the "Cot Death" group had a clinical history of illness and in many of these cases hindsight suggested that the quality of health care could have been improved. Only a small minority of sudden infant deaths were found to have no history of illness and no microscope pathology. The results suggest that most cases of sudden infant death may result from a combination of respiratory infection with either special physiological or special sociological factors.