With approximately 350 deaths per year in France, it is the leading cause of infant mortality in children under one year old. However, the unexpected death of the infant (MIN) still presents many gray areas, with figures which do not fall and are worrying, especially as they remain high compared to other neighboring countries. Until Tuesday, specialists are gathered in Montpellier on the occasion of a first European congress to discuss the subject. It is in particular a question of a tool created seven years ago in Nantes, presented as “unique in the world”, and which might make it possible to advance knowledge on this phenomenon which is still difficult to explain.
Because for regarding half of the babies concerned, despite carrying out a whole range of examinations and samples, “the current state of research does not make it possible to find a cause”, deplores doctor Karine Levieux pediatrician in the emergency room of the CHU from Nantes. Since 2015, unexpected infant death observatory (OMIN), of which she is the medical coordinator, is therefore working to identify and compile epidemiological data throughout France to help unravel the mystery. Two years ago, this register was enriched with a “biocollection”, which already includes some 1,800 samples, all stored in the biological resource center of the Nantes hospital. “It’s a lot of work, but we’re finally starting to get an interesting number,” says Léa Ferrand, project manager. Enough for scientists to take it and start research, in order to lower this number of deaths. We are still talking regarding the equivalent of 12 kindergarten classes…”
Emphasize prevention
By presenting these figures, l’OMIN also hopes to give more scope to the knowledge we already have, even if it is complex. “The death of a baby is often multi-factorial and the observatory confirms this, observes Karine Levieux. A child with neurological or cardiac immaturity, premature or with a low weight, who will be exposed to smoking and in an unsuitable sleeping environment has a greater risk of death with all these elements combined. Hence the need, according to the observatory, to put the package on prevention, following a major campaign had succeeded in lowering the numbers in the 1990s. “It is recommended that the child be on his back, alone in his bed, with a bar and without a bed bumper, recalls the pediatrician. We put him in a sleeping bag, in a room where the temperature is between 18 and 20 degrees. »
Prematurity, genetics… Several studies are currently underway to go further. “Research might help find other risk factors, for example the consumption of medications during pregnancy. We have big doubts regarding some of them, says the pediatrician. We also know that the numbers are higher in some areas than others, so aren’t there pollutants in the atmosphere involved? In the meantime, OMIN is looking for funding to continue its work. “I am convinced that we will be able to highlight new things, confides Karine Levieux. We still have to have the means to get them”.
