[Munchausen syndrome by proxy].

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP) in children is a form of child abuse in which a parent (usually the mother) or other care-taker feigns or fabricates disease symptoms in the child, often to the extent of causing serious physical harm, sometimes even resulting in death. Even if the child does not suffer actual physical harm, there is great danger that his or her social and mental development may be jeopardized. Health care personnel risk becoming party to the abuse through exposing the child to unnecessary medical procedures. A case of MSbP involving two siblings is presented in the article, together with a brief summary of current knowledge of the syndrome and measures for its management, emphasising the necessity of close cooperation between paediatrician, child psychiatrist and the social services.