Citation

Pires JM, Molle LD. J. Pediatr. (SBP) 1999; 75(4): 281-286.

Vernacular Title

Sindrome de Munchausen por procuracao - relato de dois casos.

Affiliation

Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14685531

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To draw pediatrician's and healthcare worker's attention to the Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a serious kind of child abuse. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the clinical history and the evolution of two patients, based on a review of these patient's files in the Children's Rights Committee of the Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio, for further discussion. The first case reports a 5- year old child that presented difficult-controlling seizures; this case had an excellent prognosis after being examined by several specialists and later on by the Children's Right Committee. The second case reported is a 5-month old infant who presented apnea crisis accompanied by cyanosis and seizures. COMMENT: Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a relatively rare clinical entity, that can be difficult to be diagnosed, leading to unnecessary and potentially harmful diagnostic procedures to the child.

Language: pt