Munchausen syndrome by proxy: an unexpected cause of severe chronic diarrhoea in a child.
A six-year-old boy with severe intermittent diarrhoea was subjected to extensive diagnostic investigation and treatment before the administration of a laxative (sodium sulphate) by his mother was discovered. Early suspicion and analysis of faecal fluid for electrolytes and known laxative substances would have prevented the hazardous clinical course of this case.
Carlson
J
J
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Fernlund
P
P
Ivarsson
S A
SA
Jakobsson
I
I
Neiderud
J
J
Nilsson
K O
KO
Svensson
M
M
Swanstein
U
U
D002400:Cathartics; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013431:Sulfates
D002400:Cathartics; D013431:Sulfates; C012036:sodium sulfate