• Every year in France, an average of 350 babies are affected by unexpected infant death syndrome.

  • With thousands of data and samples, the observatory hopes to advance research on the phenomenon.

With about 350 deaths per year in France, it is the leading cause of infant mortality among children under one year old.

However, the unexpected death of the infant (MIN) still presents many gray areas, with figures which do not fall and are worrying, especially as they remain high compared to other neighboring countries.

Until Tuesday, specialists are meeting in Montpellier on the occasion of a first European congress to discuss the subject.

It is in particular a question of a tool created seven years ago in Nantes, presented as "unique in the world", and which could make it possible to advance knowledge on this phenomenon which is still difficult to explain.

Because for about half of the babies concerned, despite carrying out a whole range of examinations and samples, "the current state of research does not make it possible to find a cause", deplores doctor Karine Levieux pediatrician in the emergency room of the CHU from Nantes.

Since 2015, the Observatory of Unexpected Infant Death (OMIN), of which she is the medical coordinator, has therefore been working to identify and compile epidemiological data throughout France to help unravel the mystery.

Two years ago, this register was enriched with a "biocollection", which already includes some 1,800 samples, all stored in the biological resource center of the Nantes hospital.

"It's a lot of work, but we're finally starting to get an interesting number," says Léa Ferrand, project manager.

Enough for scientists to take hold of it and start research, in order to reduce this number of deaths.

We are still talking about the equivalent of 12 kindergarten classes…”

Emphasize prevention

By presenting these figures, the OMIN also hopes to give more scope to the knowledge that we already have, even if it is complex.

“The death of a baby is often multi-factorial and the observatory confirms this, observes Karine Levieux.

A child with neurological or cardiac immaturity, premature or with a low weight, who will be exposed to smoking and in an unsuitable sleeping environment has a greater risk of death with all these elements combined.

" Hence the need, according to the observatory, to put the package on prevention, after a major campaign had succeeded in lowering the figures in the 1990s. "It is recommended that the child be on his back , alone in his bed, with a bar and without a bed bumper, recalls the pediatrician.

We put him to bed in a sleeping bag,

in a room where the temperature is between 18 and 20 degrees.

»

Prematurity, genetics… Several studies are currently underway to go further.

“Research could help find other risk factors, for example drug use during pregnancy.

We have big doubts about some of them, says the pediatrician.

We also know that the numbers are higher in some areas than others, so aren't there pollutants in the atmosphere involved?

In the meantime, OMIN is looking for funding to continue its work.

“I am convinced that we will be able to highlight new things, confides Karine Levieux.

We still have to have the means to get them”.

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Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (MIN) is "the death of an infant occurring suddenly when nothing, in the infant's known history, could have predicted it", explains the Nantes University Hospital.

  • Health

  • Nantes

  • Pays de la Loire

  • Infant

  • Prevention