Munchausen syndrome by proxy: a case report

Inappropriately high levels of insulin secretion can cause the potentially fatal condition of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy. Our paper focuses on another cause of severe hypoglycemia, which can be easily missed.

An 18-month-old Saudi female was referred to our hospital for further investigation and management of her recurrent hypoglycemic attacks as a case of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy. During admission, we noticed multiple red flags from the history; the mother was insisting on a pancreatectomy, rather than going for a positron emission tomography scan, and most importantly, all hypoglycemic attacks occurred while the mother was around. Consequently, after further investigation, the case was diagnosed as a caregiver-fabricated illness, and the case was referred to the Child Protection Center.

One must have a high index of suspicion to diagnose caregiver-fabricated illness. Physicians should be more attentive to prevent such a disease, which could eventually become lethal if left unnoticed.