Classify killer syndrome, WHO urged

Date: 09/10/2003

By Martin Banks

A PAN-European campaign was launched by MEPs this week, urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify 'sudden death syndrome' as a disease and work to identify its causes.

The death of soccer star Marc-Vivien Foe, who collapsed during an international match last June between Cameroon and Colombia in Lyon, France, brought renewed attention to the condition, which claims the lives of hundreds of children and young adults every year.

Foe, whose clubs included RC Lens, West Ham United, Olympique Lyon and Manchester City, was 28 and at his physical peak when he suddenly died.

But it was a tragedy even closer to home that helped spur Yorkshire MEP Linda McAvan into spearheading the campaign aimed at persuading the WHO to do more to prevent such occurrences.

She became involved after Mathias, the 20-month-old son of her Parliamentary researcher, Tracy Cook, recently died from sudden death syndrome.

McAvan said: "Foe's sudden death was no freak one-off. His death highlighted the worrying number of cases of children, young people and otherwise healthy adults who die suddenly each year.

"These people appear to have no symptoms, seem fit and healthy, but they collapse without warning or die in their sleep and there is little or no chance to save them.

"These unexplained sudden deaths are often classified as death from natural causes.

"Not until the syndrome is named and the death logged will it become possible to study them systematically, identify their causes and find ways of preventing them from occurring."

McAvan, who launched the campaign with Scottish MEP Catherine Stihler at the European Parliament yesterday (8 October) , compares the lack of awareness about the condition with that of sudden infant death syndrome.

Since cot deaths were classified as 'sudden infant death syndrome' ten years ago, such deaths have fallen by 70%.

Stihler said: "It is only by naming this syndrome in the WHO international disease code that we can edge closer to understanding the causes, risk factors and putting preventive strategies in place.

"Prior experience with cot deaths indicates that this approach could have a major impact.

"With sustained pressure, we know we can successfully make the case to the WHO that this small practical step will help save lives."

More details about the condition can be obtained from www.c-r-y.org.uk

MEPs launched a campaign at the European Parliament on 8 October 2003 to raise awareness of 'sudden death syndrome' and are urging the World Health Organisation to classify the syndrome as a disease and work to identify its causes.

http://www.c-r-y.org.uk http://www.c-r-y.org.uk

http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/SDSgoestoeurope.htm http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/SDSgoestoeurope.htm

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