Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is a serious disorder that is often looked over by many. It is a very serious disease and must not be taken lightly. Munchausen syndrome by proxy, also known as factitious disorder by proxy, is a form of child abuse where the mother or parent makes up or produces illnesses in their own child. Many cases of this disease have lead to the death of the child and imprisonment of the parent. This is a disease that needs to be made aware of and not looked over by anyone person.
The parent produces or makes up the child’s symptoms to where it is serious enough to take to a physician or a hospital. Once at the hospital the child’s symptoms seem to mysteriously disappear, though they may repair again as soon as the child is out of view of anyone other than the alleged parent. Normally, the child’s symptoms do not fit a classical illness or do not fill well together to create one illness but rather symptoms of different illnesses. The physician often notices that the parent is overattentive or too helpful. The parent makes the smallest symptoms seem much larger. When the physician dismisses the case, the parent is very distraught and will often make the symptoms worse in order for the physician to take more notice to the child next time. All too often the parent producing the illness is in the health care field. This helps the parent to make sure their case of illness for their child looks real.
There is treatment for Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Once the syndrome has been recognized by a physician, the child needs to be protected and removed from the direct care of the parent endangering them. This often means that the child will go into foster care or hopefully to another family member. Because this is a form of child abuse, the case must be reported to authorities. Psychiatric counseling for the parent will be highly recommended or even required by a judge. But since the disease is rare and not well