Which condition is identified as the most common cause of death in infants aged one month to one year in the United States?

The most common cause of death in infants aged one month to one year in the United States is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS refers to the sudden and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant, typically occurring during sleep. This tragic phenomenon usually happens in infants between the ages of one month and one year, with the peak incidence occurring between two and four months of age.

Research indicates that there are several risk factors associated with SIDS, including sleeping on the stomach or side, exposure to smoke, and possibly overheating during sleep. Efforts to reduce the incidence of SIDS have included public health campaigns promoting safe sleep practices, such as placing infants on their backs to sleep, using a firm mattress, and keeping the sleep environment free from soft bedding and toys.

Other options such as accidental asphyxia, infantile colic, and congenital anomalies also present concerns for infant health, but they do not account for the same frequency of deaths as SIDS does in this particular age group. Understanding SIDS and its prevention is crucial in lowering infant mortality rates and ensuring safer sleep environments for young children.