[Hysteria in children: Briquet's syndrome (a case report)]

In this case report, the authors studied the difficulties to set up the diagnosis of hysteria in the Briquet's Syndrome. The description presented here is about an eleven years old girl patient without any particular family background and who, after her tonsils have been out against her will, presented a hysteria in the form of Briquet's Syndrome. All the explorations showed no abnormalities. It is the questioning, and the analysis of facts from informations by the patient and her family which allowed to conclude the diagnosis of hysteria. She received a chemotherapy, associated with a psychotherapy and a family guidance. The course was favourable after two months. The authors compare these findings with some data of the literature and underline the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties they faced. How physicians should approach such form of hysteria to set up the diagnosis is to proceed by elimination because the disease can simulate all sorts of medical or psychiatrical affections.