Objective:

To describe a pediatric patient with factitious disorder by proxy or Münchausen syndrome.

Case description:

A two-year-old female patient with a history of a sister who died, but who also had repeated hypoglycemia. Before the most recent admission, the patient had been hospitalized for hypoglycemia on several occasions. On this last occasion, she presented with asthenia and syncope, documenting a blood glucose level of 22 mg / dL. All laboratory studies to determine the cause of hypoglycemia were normal. Through psychiatric intervention, the mother confessed that she administered insulin to the patient exogenously.

Conclusion:

Factitious disorder by proxy is a serious form of child abuse, where the caregiver performs actions to generate morbidity. Its early identification will prevent its perpetuation and a possible fatal outcome.