Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pathology

Background:Sudden death in apparently healthy children is always tragic.Grief is compounded when the cause of death cannot be detected.Many studies focused on sudden death in adultsbut sudden death in childhood merited little attention in literature with few studies in general population.Through detailed autopsy and ancillary examination, forensic pathologists can have a positive impact on lives of living relatives and provide benefit to society on the whole.To our knowledge, the present study is the first report about sudden natural death in childhood in Egypt. Aim of work:High-lightening diseases that cause sudden natural deaths in childhood, with a focus on their pathological features and their epidemiological characteristics in Egypt.The data delivered through this work will be thoroughly considered with the prospect of ensuring that lessons are learned, common themes identified and actions will be taken to contribute in preventing children{u2019}s deaths. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted at pathology unit at Forensic Medicine Authority- Ministry of Justice{u2013} Cairo, from the beginning of January 2011 till the end of December including all children (aged 0-18 years) who died suddenly and unexpectedly due to natural cause.These cases were subjected to thorough investigations withstudying of pathologicalfindingsat their sent organs. Traumatic and toxic deaths were excluded. Results: Two hundred and forty-five (245) cases of sudden natural deaths were identified (65.2%) among 376 total admitted sudden deaths.Themajorities of deathswere of the youngest age groups with slight higher mortality in boys compared to girls (ratio 1.4:1).The cause of death could be explained in 204 cases (82.3%).the most detected cause was prematurity (in 65 cases, 26.5 %) followed by infection (in 58 cases, 23.9%) while 41 cases (17.7%) remained unexplained

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