Which of the following is a commonly reported type of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)?

• A. Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed
• B. Homicide
• C. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• D. Other unknown causes

Answer: (C)

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) refers to deaths of infants under one year that occur suddenly and without an immediately obvious cause after initial investigation. It includes several outcomes: sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, and deaths with unknown or undetermined causes. SIDS is the most commonly reported single category within SUID because it is used when, after thorough autopsy and scene investigation, no other cause is found. It’s a diagnosis of exclusion, not a description of a specific mechanism. While accidental suffocation in bed and unknown causes do occur, SIDS is the label most often seen in surveillance data and studies, which is why it’s identified as the commonly reported type. Homicide is a separate classification and would be considered outside the SUID umbrella when that cause is identified.