Primary health care providers are well aware of the physical findings that suggest a child has been intentionally maltreated. Practitioners must also be aware of a more subtle form of child abuse in which the parent victimizes the child by presenting fictitious medical history that initiates a sequence of unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. A 4 1/2-year saga of such a case, an example of Munchausen syndrome by proxy in the outpatient setting, is reported.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Deodorant Spray-Induced Cold Burns: A Case of Child Abuse.
Pediatr Dermatol
December 2024
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is extremely difficult to diagnose. A case is presented of a 17-month-old girl who repeatedly sustained cold burns caused by a spray deodorant and inflicted by her mother. A comprehensive medical investigation, including blood assessments, skin biopsies and imaging were inconclusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdvancing Understanding of Dermatological Manifestations in Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
Cureus
October 2024
Dermatology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, USA.
Article Synopsis
- This review examines the intricate link between Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) and its skin-related symptoms, highlighting the need for deeper understanding in this area of psychiatric disorders.
- Through case studies and existing literature, it showcases various dermatological issues in MSBP patients, from self-inflicted wounds to fabricated conditions, and discusses the psychological motivations behind caregivers' actions.
- The paper emphasizes the challenges healthcare providers face in identifying MSBP-related skin symptoms and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach, improved assessment tools, and further research to enhance understanding and diagnosis of MSBP.
Evaluation of the Prevalence of Factitious Disorder and Its Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in Psychiatric Inpatients in Iran; A Cross-Sectional Study.
Med J Islam Repub Iran
June 2024
Department of Health Psychology, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Article Synopsis
- Diagnosing factitious disorder (FD) in Iran is challenging, with only 17 confirmed cases in five years, highlighting potential delays in patient care and rising costs.
- *The study revealed most FD patients were young males (ages 20-30) with comorbidities, especially substance use disorder and personality disorders, suggesting a complex clinical picture.
- *The findings indicate FD is often underdiagnosed, emphasizing the need for greater awareness of its signs and the importance of considering comorbid conditions in treatment plans.
The spectrum of concern for medical child abuse among adolescents with chronic pain due to central sensitisation.
Child Abuse Rev
February 2024
Primary Children's Hospital, Center for Safe and Healthy Families, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the experiences of adolescents with chronic pain who may show signs of medical child abuse (MCA), highlighting how the level of disability can exceed medical findings.
- - Researchers analyzed medical records of 37 adolescents aged 13-18 from an academic children's hospital, categorizing themes into three levels of concern for MCA: 'Green zone' (common issues), 'Yellow zone' (more concerning factors), and 'Red zone' (directly linked to MCA).
- - The findings identified commonalities in medical narratives and emphasized the need for careful assessment by healthcare providers to determine the potential risk of MCA in adolescents with chronic pain.
A medical child abuse case with spurious bleeding; importance of collecting the evidence.
J Forensic Leg Med
October 2024
Department of Social Pediatrics, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Medical Child Abuse (MCA) involves caregivers harming children by fabricating or exaggerating medical symptoms, leading to unnecessary treatments that can be dangerous for the child.
- An 18-month-old boy exhibited recurrent bleeding episodes that were later identified as likely being fabricated by his mother, raising suspicions of MCA after inconsistencies were noted in his medical history.
- The case highlights the importance of timely and thorough investigations to diagnose MCA, emphasizing the need for collecting concrete evidence, such as DNA testing, to support allegations of abuse.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!