Simultaneous SIDS and Twins

(3/27/98)

Dear Friends,

A number of articles hit the news the past few of days regarding simultaneous SIDS and twins. The news refers to the unfortunate simultaneous deaths of twin infants. I believe the deaths occurred in Pennsylvania, USA. The public has been on an information roller coaster, the result of an explosion of media reports. We need to help people separate myth from fact and risk factor from cause. We will post information as it becomes available to us.

Please keep the following in mind:

- When it comes to media coverage of SIDS, we often feel a sense of frustration in being confronted with misleading headlines, announcements of so-called breakthroughs and statements taken out of context.

- Please read the article, "Mass Media's" Role in SIDS Education, at <http://sids-network.org/media.htm>.

- You can search this web site for other twin related information.

- You can search MEDLINE for simultaneous SIDS information.

We are currently gathering more information about this specific research and will keep you updated.

Thanks!

Chuck Mihalko
Executive Manager
SIDS Network

Comments from Henry Krous, M.D.
March 26, 1998

Although simultaneous death in twins supposedly secondary to SIDS has been reported, the statistical probability of such an occurrence is extraordinarily low, even remote. Therefore meticulous death scene investigation and postmortem examination are critically important (as in single deaths as well) in order to try and understand the cause and manner of such deaths. It is erroneous and unfair and even prejudicial, in my opinion, to assume such cases are a result of homicide. Environmental and toxicological causes must be ruled out. Given that they may be, in the absence of overt evidence of murder, then a diagnosis of undetermined is probably the wisest choice, hoping further information will come to light at a future date.

Henry Krous
San Diego