The web survey network of sudden infant death syndrome and apparent life-threatening events in the Emilia-Romagna region

To survey epidemiology and to study the etiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and apparent life threatening events (ALTE) in Emilia-Romagna, a web network was constituted. A regional supervisor and a steering committee plan the action of district and local co-ordinators. They keep contact with the Regional Office of Health Services. District and local co-ordinators collect clinical and laboratory and, in case of SIDS, also autopsy data. Records are communicated to the Regional Supervising Center by on-line software. From these data, future planning of care and of mass information as well as auditing of their efficacy can be carried out. The characteristics of the network that has just started to collect data, as well its future developmental aspects, are discussed.