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Munchausen by Proxy

What is Munchausen by Proxy?

First lets look at a similar syndrome, Munchausen Syndrome...

Munchausen (MOON-chow-zun) syndrome is a serious mental disorder in which someone with a deep need for attention pretends to be sick or gets sick or injured on purpose. People with Munchausen syndrome may make up symptoms, push for risky operations, or try to rig laboratory test results to try to win sympathy and concern. Source:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/munchausen-syndrome/DS00965/METHOD=print

Muchausen syndrome by proxy is when a parent or caretaker makes a child (or pet) sick to gain attention.

Symptoms

•The child's symptoms do not fit a classical picture of illness or do not fit together well.

•The child's symptoms improve at the hospital but reappear at home.

•The parent is overattentive or "too helpful."

•The parent is often involved in a health-care field, such as nursing.

Source; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001555.htm

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is very difficult, but could involve some of the following:

•child who has multiple medical problems that don't respond to treatment or that follow a persistent and puzzling course

•physical or laboratory findings that are highly unusual, don't correspond with the child's medical history, or are physically or clinically impossible

•short-term symptoms that tend to stop or improve when the victim is not with the perpetrator (for example, when hospitalized)

•a parent or caregiver who isn't reassured by "good news" when test results find no medical problems, but continues to believe that the child is ill and may "doctor shop" to find a professional who believes them

Treatment

According to National Institute of Health (NIH), once the syndrome is recognized, the child needs to be protected and removed from direct care of the parent. The affected parent should not be accused directly, but offered help.

Because this is a form of child abuse, the syndrome must be reported to the authorities.

Treatment for the caregiver is a complete psychological exam and counseling.

Prevention

The causes of MSBP are not known so we don’t know how to prevent it. However the mentally ill person might have a past of child abuse or neglect. Recognition of MSBP in the child-parent relationship can prevent continued abuse and unnecessary, expensive, and possibly dangerous medical testing.

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