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Child abuse manifested as factitious apnea

B Morris

    Southern Medical Journal
    |August 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Factitious apnea, intentionally caused by a father, mimicked Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in an infant. Apnea monitoring failed to prevent these harmful events, instead creating a false sense of security.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Medicine
    • Forensic Pediatrics
    • Child Abuse

    Background:

    • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause of infant mortality.
    • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate intervention and prevention strategies.

    Observation:

    • A 6-week-old infant presented with near-miss SIDS events.
    • These episodes were witnessed and documented within a hospital setting.

    Findings:

    • The infant's apnea was determined to be factitious, intentionally induced by the father.
    • Apnea monitoring technology failed to detect the intentional suffocation and perpetuated the misdiagnosis of SIDS.

    Implications:

    • This case highlights the critical need for vigilance against medical child abuse.
    • Healthcare providers must consider non-accidental causes in infants presenting with unexplained cardiorespiratory events.
    • Apnea monitoring may not be a reliable tool in cases of intentional suffocation.

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