Parents' reporting of symptoms in their children: physicians' perceptions.
Pediatricians and family practitioners were asked how accurately parents report young children's symptoms. They believe 5% conceal/fail to report, 8% minimize, 80% report accurately, 10% exaggerate, and 1% falsely report/induce symptoms. They report fewer puzzling cases in their own practices than these estimates would suggest. Health professionals should know the warning signs of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Sheridan
M S
MS
Straub Pacific Health Foundation, Honolulu, HI 96814.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010290:Parents; D010372:Pediatrics; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires