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[Munchausen syndrome in children: report of 2 cases]
A Loredo-Abdalá1, J J Sierra-G de Quevedo, D Oldak-Skvirsky
1Departamento de Medicina Interna, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico, D.F.
Insights
This study highlights two pediatric cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare form of child abuse. Early recognition and intervention are crucial for affected children and to prevent perpetrator behavior reinforcement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Abuse
- Medical Psychology
Background:
- Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) is a rare form of child abuse.
- Cases are infrequently recognized, often presenting within internal medicine departments.
- This condition involves fabricated or induced illness in a child by a caregiver.
Abstract:
We report the existence of two cases of an infrequently know form of child abuse, Munchausen syndrome "by proxy" treated in the Department of Internal Medicine of the National Institute of Pediatrics. We have considered it necessary to emphasize the way this clinical entity is presented, pointing out the exact clinical data and how the relatives referred to them when faced with the treating physician, the number of people involved in treating the children as well as the exagerated number of laboratory and X-ray studies performed. The discrepancy in terminology to point to this disease, allows for the use of the term "Munchausen syndrome in children" to differentiate it from that used in psychiatry. The need to alert the medical community who treats these children on this rarely seen disease, will allow for its recognition and early treatment which avoid a reinforcement of the perpetrators attitudes.