Munchausen syndrome by proxy and sleep disorders medicine

Abstract

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a factitious disorder of childhood in which a parent fabricates medical history or produces signs of illness in a child to keep the child in a sick role. Since approximately half of all cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy are presentations of central nervous system illness, such as excessive daytime sleepiness and near-miss sudden infant death syndrome, sleep disorders centers are likely diagnostic consultants for the evaluation of children involved in this disorder. We review characteristics that may suggest that a particular case has an increased likelihood of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The recent presentations of two cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy to sleep disorders centers are discussed as examples.