Infectious diseases presentations of Munchausen syndrome by proxy: case report and review of the literature.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a form of abuse, usually of a child by a parent, in which a factitious illness is reported or produced in the child, resulting in unnecessary medical evaluations and treatments. A dramatic case of a 17-month-old infant with recurrent polymicrobial bacteremia prompted a review of cases diagnosed by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases consultation service at our referral children's hospital and a review of the infectious diseases presentations in the medical literature. The infectious diseases presentations of the syndrome as well as criteria for the diagnosis are reviewed and discussed.
Goldfarb
J
J
Division of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, Ohio, USA.
Lawry
K W
KW
Steffen
R
R
Sabella
C
C
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology