ABSTRACT
Sudden death describes unexpected natural death within a short period of time, generally less than 1 h from the onset of symptoms, or unwitnessed death during sleep in a person without any prior condition that would appear fatal.1 This excludes death from violent or accidental causes. Pediatric sudden unexpected natural death involves infants, children and adolescents; fortunately, it is rare. Population-based reports show specific rates of 1.3-8.0 per year per 100 000 inhabitants.2-5
Because the subject of this volume is sudden cardiac death (SCD) but noncardiac sudden death in the pediatric age group has a relatively high rate, it is necessary to review briefly noncardiac causes of pediatric sudden death.
