CLIPBOARD : Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome cases dropped significantly in Orange County in 1990. There were 41 deaths attributed to SIDS, down 23% from the year before.

One aspect of these deaths has held true during each of the last two years, though: It is more likely to claim infant boys. SIDS victims were about twice as likely to be male as female in both 1990 and 1989.

Here’s the trend since 1985:

% Change Year Male Female Total From Prior Year 1990 27 14 41 -23 1989 35 18 53 +71 1988 18 13 31 -6 1987 19 14 33 +14 1986 16 13 29 -37 1985 33 13 46 -- 6-YEAR AVERAGE 24.7 14.2 38.8 -- 6-YEAR TOTAL 148 85 233 --

Source: County coroner’s office