Two siblings poisoned with diphenhydramine: a case of factitious disorder by proxy.
We report a case of factitious disorder by proxy (FDBP), formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, in which 2 siblings were poisoned with diphenhydramine. Although diphenhydramine is a readily available medication, no report of its use as the sole agent in an FDBP case was found in a literature search. Although sibling involvement in FDBP is well documented, this is the first case report of 2 siblings hospitalized simultaneously because of intentional poisoning with the same substance. Finally, the use of physostigmine to definitively diagnose anticholinergic poisoning in a case of FDBP has not previously been described.
Arnold
S M
SM
Colorado Permanente Medical Group, University of Colorado School of Medicine, The Children's Hospital, Denver, USA.
Arnholz
D
D
Garyfallou
G T
GT
Heard
K
K
D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016060:Sorption Detoxification
D000931:Antidotes; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002606:Charcoal; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D010830:Physostigmine