Paris - Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death, has been linked to bacteria commonly found in peptic ulcers and heart disease. The bug, Helicobacter pylori, was found in traces of stomach, trachea and lung tissue among 28 of 32 British babies who died of SIDS, according to Manchester Royal Infirmary doctors.
The researchers note that the bug produces an inflammatory response from the immune system, which could cause the child to go into deep sleep, and unleashes large amounts of an enzyme called urease. The urease in turn may trigger a cascade of toxic ammonia in the blood supply, which cannot be detoxified by the liver, they believe.