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Munchausen's syndrome presenting as severe panniculitis

M E Falagas1, M Christopoulou, E S Rosmarakis

  • 1Department of Medicine, Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece. m.falagas@alfahc.gr

International Journal of Clinical Practice
|August 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Munchausen's syndrome, a factitious disorder, is often misdiagnosed. Physicians need high suspicion to diagnose this self-induced disorder presenting with varied symptoms like abdominal pain and panniculitis.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Factitious disorders, including Munchausen's syndrome, present diagnostic challenges in clinical practice.
  • Self-induced disorders can mimic genuine medical conditions, leading to potential misdiagnosis.

Observation:

  • A 36-year-old woman presented with fever and abdominal pain, exhibiting signs of abdominal wall inflammation and severe panniculitis.
  • Initial investigations for fat necrosis yielded no explanation for the patient's condition.

Findings:

  • The patient was ultimately diagnosed with Munchausen's syndrome (self-induced disorder).
  • Surgical removal of deliberately self-inserted needles confirmed the diagnosis two years later.

Implications:

  • A high index of suspicion and persistent clinical evaluation are crucial for diagnosing Munchausen's syndrome.
  • Recognizing the diverse manifestations of factitious disorders is essential for accurate patient management.

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