Munchausen's syndrome by proxy--a malignant form of child abuse
Wojaczyńska-Stanek, K.; Skubacz, M.; Marszał, E.
Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski Organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego 9(53): 799-802
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 1426-9686 PMID: 11204335 Document Number: 522260
Munchhausen syndrome by proxy is a malignant form of child abuse in which illness in a child is fabricated and/or induced by a parent. It can result in serious illness and even death of the child and it is difficult to detect. The authors give a significant amount of literature examples. They try to find out the difference in ways of hurting by perpetrators. Various types of personalities and emotional disturbances in Munchhausen on proxy syndrome are shown. Child maltreatment and Munchhausen by proxy syndrome need to be part of the differential diagnosis when the clinical picture is atypical or does not appear medically plausible.