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- Title
Munchausen's syndrome by proxy in Iraq; case series.
- Authors
Sarhat, Ashoor R.
- Abstract
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a rare and serious form of child abuse and psychological maltreatment, comprises both physical abuse and medical neglect. It is characterized by a child with symptoms and signs of an illness that have been fabricated by the mother or the caregiver. Ten children less than 7 years of age (eight males, two females) with Munchausen syndrome by proxy were seen in Al-Tifil Central hospital and Tikrit Teaching Hospital between 1998-2007. In three of the patients the mother was the only offender, the child's aunt was the only offender in another one patient, the mother and her sister were the offenders in another patient, the mother and her aunt was the offender in another patient, and in the remaining 4 patients the mother's aunt was the offenders, who named here as the great perpetrator, because she was the perpetrator with 10 victims of different ages. In 9 patients, the relations was the offender's motivation in comparison economic motivation in only one patient. One child died, while the other patient's lives were saved. Difficulties in diagnosis and management in this field are presented. This is a pioneer study for five reasons; 1st: it reveals existence of MSBP in Iraq for the first time, 2nd: it describes a novel type of MSBP, which caused by the great perpetrator, who had 10 victims of different ages; 3rd: it describes 2 patients of adult victims of MSBP, and 4th: describes offenders who act in duet manner 5th: special problems unique to the Iraqi society has been described. Until now, no national legal guidelines exist in the Iraq to child abuse in general and MSBP in particular. Urgent guidelines, policies, and legal system are required. It is necessary to create awareness even in the medical community, to recognize this problem and should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of unusual illness with bizarre features, even if the parents' behavior appears normal.
- Subjects
MUNCHAUSEN syndrome by proxy; CHILD abuse; WOMEN criminals; AWARENESS; SOCIOECONOMICS
- Publication
Medical Journal of Tikrit, 2016, Vol 21, Issue 1, p271
- ISSN
1813-1638
- Publication type
Article