Sudden infant death syndrome

This code represents the sudden, unexpected death of an infant younger than one year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other causes of death must be ruled out.

This code is used when an infant's death meets the criteria for SIDS after a comprehensive investigation. Documentation must clearly state that all other potential causes of death have been excluded following autopsy and scene investigation. It is typically assigned by a medical examiner or coroner.

• This is a diagnosis of exclusion; ensure documentation explicitly states other causes have been ruled out.
• Do not use this code if an underlying cause of death is identified, even if sudden.
• This code is generally assigned as the principal diagnosis for the infant's death.