Role of Infection in Cot Deaths

"Cot deaths" are estimated to account for over 20% of the mortality in the age group concerned, more than 1,400 such fatalities having occurred in England and Wales in 1955 (Banks, 1958). The infants are found unexpectedly dead in the cot, having been placed there, generally the previous night, either well or suffering from an apparently trivial upset that usually had given no cause for alarm to the parents or to the medical attendant.