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Munchausen's Syndrome in Children: Bizarre Clinical and Laboratory Features
Author(s) -
Abe Kazuo,
Shinozima Kazunori,
Okuno Akihiro,
Abe Takeshi,
Ochi Hitoshi
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1984.tb01860.x
Subject(s) - medicine , munchausen syndrome , barium enema , cystoscopy , bloody , abdominal pain , factitious disorder , rash , urination , macroscopic hematuria , pediatrics , surgery , dermatology , urinary system , child abuse , psychiatry , poison control , colonoscopy , colorectal cancer , environmental health , cancer , suicide prevention
A 10‐ year‐old girl showed macroscopic hematuria, purpuric rash, bloody stool and complained of abdominal pain and joint pain for three years. The extensive investigations including intravenous urography, cystoscopy, barium enema, upper gastrointestinal X‐rays, sigmoidoscopy and renal biopsy failed to reveal the sources of bleeing for urinary anmd gastrointestinal tracts and to explain abdominal and joint pains. the major blood group of the patient was B, while that in the urine obtained by the patient without supervised conditions was A or AB. This finding indicated that macroscopic hematuria was factitious in origin and the patient stated that symptoms were fabricated by herself. The various psychological tests failed to disclose the motives for this bizarre behavior and to obtain the evidence of psychosis. This case presents the youngest and fourth case of Munchausen's syndrome in children and suggests that when bizarre clinical and laboratory findings are observed, Munchausen's syndrome should be suspected and its consideration may obviate harmful and unnecessary investigations as well as medications.