Description A form of child abu...
Description
A form of child abuse. The caretaker (frequently the mother) produces factitious symptoms of disease about the child. This history generates multiple medical tests and surgical procedures on the child and can result in serious adverse effects and significant harm. It is rare and poorly understood. The cause is unknown.
Symptoms
Multiple complaints such as abdominal pain, vomiting, poor appetite, fever, seizures, bloody stools, breathing problems.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. There are no tests to diagnose this disorder. The characteristic sign of this disorder is the child's symptoms go away during hospitalization and reoccur after going back home.
Specialists:
Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. There are no tests to diagnose this disorder. The characteristic sign of this disorder is the child's symptoms go away during hospitalization and reoccur after going back home.
Specialists:
Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry
Treatment
The child's welfare is the most important part of the treatment and like other forms of child abuse the authorities should be notified. In most cases the child will be removed from the care of the parent and psychiatric treatment and behavioral counseling will be recommended for the parent involved.