Seizures during sleep may be responsible for some sudden deaths in children.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been a mystery for years, with no clear cause identified.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been a mystery for years, with no clear cause identified. However, a new study published in the journal Neurology may have finally shed light on this tragic condition. According to the study, seizures during sleep may be responsible for some sudden deaths in children. The researchers analyzed home monitoring video that captured the deaths of seven sleeping toddlers and found that five of them died shortly after movements deemed to be a brief seizure.
Convulsive seizures may be a potential cause for SUDC deaths
Seizure specialist and sleep specialist analyzed home monitoring video that captured deaths of these children.
Accuracy
Seizures during sleep may be responsible for some sudden deaths in young children
Febrile seizures can increase the risk of sudden unexplained death in children between the ages of 1-4 who then go on to have this unexplained death
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the study published in Neurology as evidence for their claims. However, this is not enough to establish a cause and effect relationship between seizures and SIDS without further research or data. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that either brief seizures are responsible for some sudden deaths in children or they are not. This oversimplifies the issue and ignores other potential causes of SIDS such as genetic factors, environmental toxins, and sleep disorders. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by using phrases like
The footage showed that the convulsions were found to have lasted for less than 60 seconds — and that the unfortunate events took place within 30 minutes of the child's death.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses a study that has identified brief seizures accompanied by muscle convulsions as a potential cause for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC). The author uses language that dehumanizes the victims of SIDS, referring to them as 'tragic losses suffered by thousands of families'. Additionally, the article mentions Dr. Laura Gould's personal connection to SUDC through her daughter Maria and how this led her team at NYU Langone to establish a registry for SUDC cases. This could be seen as an example of religious bias, as it implies that the deaths are not just random but rather have some sort of divine meaning or purpose.
Additionally, the article mentions Dr. Laura Gould's personal connection to SUDC through her daughter Maria and how this led her team at NYU Langone to establish a registry for SUDC cases.
The article discusses a study that has identified brief seizures accompanied by muscle convulsions as a potential cause for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC).
The author uses language that dehumanizes the victims of SIDS, referring to them as 'tragic losses suffered by thousands of families'.
This could be seen as an example of religious bias.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Adriana Diaz has a conflict of interest on the topic of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as she is reporting on a breakthrough study that may provide critical insight into many other deaths, including those from SIDS and epilepsy. She also reports on Dr. Laura Gould's research which could be seen as promoting her own work.
“BChE research”
Convulsive seizures may be the smoking gun that medical science has been looking for to understand why these children die
“Dr. Laura Gould”
Studying this phenomenon may also provide critical insight into many other deaths, including those from SIDS and epilepsy.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as she lost her own daughter to SUDC in 1997 and is involved with the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative at NYU Langone. The article also mentions Dr. Laura Gould, who was part of a breakthrough study that may have uncovered a potential cause for SIDS.
The author has a personal relationship with Maria, her daughter who died from SUDC in 1997 and is involved with the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative at NYU Langone.
Hayden Fell had seizures during the night recorded by a crib cam.
Five of the seven toddlers in the study died shortly after movements deemed to be brief seizures.
A sixth child probably also had one according to findings published online by Neurology journal.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that seizures during sleep are a potential cause of SUDC but does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the article implies that fever-related seizures may be linked to SUDC when there is no concrete proof linking them directly. Thirdly, the article uses sensationalism by stating that Hayden's crib cam recorded his last bedtime and offered a clue without providing any context or explanation for why this information was relevant.
The article states that seizures during sleep are a potential cause of SUDC but does not provide any evidence to support this claim. This is an example of deceptive reporting as the author presents the idea as fact without backing it up with scientific evidence.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of an appeal to authority fallacy. The author cites multiple sources without providing any evidence or context for their claims. Additionally, the article uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that SUDC is a 'mystery' and that little is known about it.
The last bedtime of 17-month-old Hayden Fell’s life was heartbreakingly normal. Crib video shows the toddler in pajamas playing happily as his parents and sister sang "Wheels on the Bus" with his twin brother.
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Fever-related seizures are hugely common in young children, affecting 2% to 5% of tots between ages 6 months and 5 years.
It was every parent's nightmare.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the possibility of seizures being a cause of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC). The author cites research that analyzed home monitoring video and found evidence linking seizures to SUDC. However, it is important to note that this study is very small and more research needs to be done before any definitive conclusions can be made.
Five of the toddlers died shortly after movements deemed to be a brief seizure by a team of forensic pathologists, a seizure specialist and a sleep specialist
Seizures during sleep are a potential cause of at least some cases of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC)
The recordings can't prove fevers triggered the seizures but researchers noted several toddlers had signs of mild infections.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses several topics that could potentially lead to conflicts of interest for the author and/or publisher. The Associated Press has a history of covering medical research and pharmaceutical companies, which may have financial ties to some of the topics discussed in this article.
Associated Press is known for its coverage on medical research
The article discusses seizures during sleep, which could be related to medication side effects or other treatments developed by pharmaceutical companies.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses several topics related to SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy) and seizures during sleep. The author is an Associated Press reporter who may have a financial stake in the pharmaceutical industry as they report on research into genetics of SUDC victims. Additionally, the article mentions Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist who has been involved in controversial research related to seizures and vaccines.
The author discusses several topics related to SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy) and seizures during sleep.
Seizures during sleep may be responsible for some sudden deaths in young children
Five of the seven toddlers died shortly after movements that a team of specialists deemed to be a brief seizure
The seizures lasted less than 60 seconds and occurred within 30 minutes prior to each child's death
Two remaining recordings were triggered by sound or motion, turning on and off
One suggested muscle convulsion, a sign of seizure
Seizures are much more common than patients' medical histories suggest
Febrile seizures can be an increased risk for sudden unexplained death in children between the ages of 1-4 who then go on to have this unexplained death
3% of children have febrile seizures, and the vast majority go on to do perfectly well
Parents should not be scared by new findings as these cases are very rare
If we can figure out children at risk, maybe we can change their outcome
Accuracy
Convulsive seizures may be a potential cause for SUDC deaths, which affect nearly 3,000 families across the country each year.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that seizures during sleep may be responsible for some sudden deaths in young children. However, this claim is not supported by any evidence presented in the article. The study only found that five out of seven toddlers died shortly after movements deemed to be a brief seizure and these were triggered by sound or motion rather than being nonstop like the other two recordings. Secondly, the author claims that sudden unexplained death in childhood is estimated to claim over 400 lives a year in the U.S., mostly during sleep. However, this information is not relevant to the study and serves no purpose other than to create fear and concern among parents without providing any useful information or solutions.
The author claims that sudden unexplained death in childhood is estimated to claim over 400 lives a year in the U.S., mostly during sleep but this information is not relevant to the study and serves no purpose other than to create fear and concern among parents without providing any useful information or solutions.
The author claims that seizures during sleep may be responsible for some sudden deaths in young children but provides no evidence to support this claim. The article only mentions that five out of seven toddlers died shortly after movements deemed to be a brief seizure and these were triggered by sound or motion rather than being nonstop like the other two recordings.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the findings of a study without providing any evidence or context for those findings. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that sudden unexplained death in children is 'usually unwitnessed during sleep' and implies that seizures are responsible for these deaths, which may not be true.
The article states:
Bias
(85%)
The article suggests that seizures may be responsible for some sudden deaths in children. The study used crib monitors donated by families of seven toddlers who died and found five of the seven toddlers died shortly after movements deemed a brief seizure. This is not definitive evidence, but it does suggest a possible link between seizures and sudden death in young children.
Dr. Orrin Devinsky, study senior investigator and neurologist, added that the findings show seizures are much more common than patients' medical histories suggest.
Five of the seven toddlers died shortly after movements deemed a brief seizure
The study links seizures to some sudden deaths in young children
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article by Sara Moniuszko on CBS News has several examples of conflicts of interest. The author is affiliated with NYU Langone Health and Laura Gould, who conducted the study mentioned in the article, works at NYU Langone Health as well. Additionally, Orrin Devinsky is also associated with NYU Langone Health.
Sara Moniuszko reports on a study by Dr. Laura Gould and her team at NYU Langone Health that found seizures may be the cause of sudden unexplained death in children (SUDC).
Sara Moniuszko reports on a study conducted by Dr. Laura Gould and her team at NYU Langone Health.
The article mentions Orrin Devinsky, who is also affiliated with NYU Langone Health.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of seizures as they are affiliated with NYU Langone Health which conducts research and treatment for epilepsy. The article also mentions febrile seizures which is another condition that may be related to seizures.
The article mentions Laura Gould who is an associate professor at NYU Langone Health and was involved in the study.
The study used video analysis to examine 10 cases of sudden unexplained death in children (SUDC) and found that all had a history of epilepsy, including febrile seizures. The authors noted that the findings suggest that SUDC may be caused by underlying neurological conditions such as those associated with epilepsy.
