Byard, R.James, R.Gilbert, J.2007-06-022007-06-022002American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 2002; 23(4):364-3670195-79101533-404Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/32720Exercise-induced collapse and sudden death are unusual in childhood. For this reason, a study was undertaken of a series of 12 cases of sudden death in childhood occurring during physical exertion associated with sporting activities. The age range was 7 to 16 years (mean 12.3 years, M:F ratio 5:1). Deaths resulted from trauma associated with the sporting activity, from an idiosyncratic response to exertion, or from exacerbation of a known underlying disease. Trauma was directly fatal (n = 4: vascular trauma in 1, head injury in 2, drowning in 1), exacerbated an underlying medical condition (n = 1: hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy), or followed collapse from underlying organic disease (n = 1: drowning in epilepsy). Deaths after exertion occurred when there was an unexpected response to underlying occult disease (n = 4: aortic stenosis in 1, cerebral arteriovenous malformation in 1, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in 1, coronary atherosclerosis in 1) or to preexisting known disease (n = 2: surgically corrected transposition of the great vessels in 1, asthma in 1). The fatal episodes often resulted from a complex interplay of a variety of factors, including physical exertion, possible trauma, and underlying organic disease. Testing of other family members may be indicated in cases where a rare, possibly familial, disease is found. Evaluation of cases required descriptions of activities before death, information from the medical history of the deceased, and detailed findings from the autopsy.enHumansDeath, SuddenExerciseRisk FactorsSportsAdolescentChildFemaleMalePhysical ExertionJournal article002002207510.1097/00000433-200212000-000130001797823000132-s2.0-003690490959517Byard, R. [0000-0002-0524-5942]