Munchausen Syndrome: The First Reported Case of Painted Blood

Munchausen syndrome (MS) or Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSP) in relation to the oral cavity is rarely reported. This article highlights the first ever reported case of painted blood in the oral cavity, arm, nose, chest, and abdomen of an 11-year-old female child, made to resemble real blood.

The complaints were backed by images of bleeding that were sent to the pedodontist from the parents; however, no signs of bleeding were found on physical examination. Various blood tests were carried out by the parents for their child in this regard, although none were conclusive of any bleeding disorder.

The parents had never reported during a bleeding episode, and neither did they answer a video call that was made to them to assess the bleeding. Moreover, the blood on all the pictures resembled paint since they appeared pinkish-red in color. These factors helped us conclude it to be a case of MS.

This is the first ever reported case of intraoral MS where paint had been used to mimic blood.

Manerkar HU, Chalakkal P, Dukle SG, et al. Munchausen Syndrome: The First Reported Case of Painted Blood. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(8):1011-1013.