Association of respiratory virus infections with sudden infant death syndrome.

From September, 1974, to September, 1979, 488 cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Melbourne were studied for evidence of viral infection. One hundred and eighty-eight infants (39%) yielded one or more viruses, with respiratory viruses being detected in 102 cases (21%). Further evidence of a respiratory virus association with SIDS was obtained by comparing the monthy respiratory virus isolation rates at the Royal Children's Hospital from 1973 to 1979 with the incidence of SIDS in the same period. A highly significant correlation was obtained between these isolation rates and the incidence of SIDS, which suggests that respiratory viruses play a role in SIDS in Melbourne.