Citation

Gehlawat P, Gehlawat VK, Singh P, Gupta R. Indian J. Psychol. Med. 2015; 37(1): 90-92.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Indian Psychiatric Society, South Zone, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0253-7176.150850

PMID

25722520

PMCID

PMC4341319

Abstract

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is emerging as a serious form of child abuse. It is an intentional production of illness in another, usually children by mothers, to assume sick role by proxy. It is poorly understood and a controversial diagnosis. Treatment is very difficult. We present a case of 9-year-old boy brought to Pt. B. D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, a tertiary care hospital in northern India by his father and paternal uncle with complaints of hematemesis since July 2012. He underwent many invasive procedures until the diagnosis of MSBP was finally considered. The examination of the blood sample confirmed the diagnosis. The child was placed under custody of his mother. The case was reported to social services, which incorporated whole family in the management.

Language: en