Ocular Munchausen Syndrome in Nigerian children - a case series & review of literature

Abstract

Background: Munchausen Syndrome is a severe type of factitious disorder which is rarely diagnosed in children. It often presents as a diagnostic enigma to physicians. Parents and care-givers of affected d children are emotionally distressed when confronted with this diagnosis. This is the first Nigerian study to report Ocular Munchausen syndrome in children.

Objective: The study is to amide awareness about the possibility of Munchausen Syndrome occurring in Nigerian children.

Methods: Scheduled patient and care-giver interviews were conducted in the clinic and the case notes of suspected patients were reviewed. The tenets of the declaration of Helsinki were adhered to and relevant ethical permission was obtained for this study.

Results: Three Nigerian children aged 6, 9 and 13 years respectively were suspected to have ocular Munchausen Syndrome. Psychiatric evaluation confirmed the diagnosis in Cases 1 and 3. Case 2 defaulted from treatment. The six year old is the youngest known case of Ocular Munchausen Syndrome.

Conclusion: Factitious disorders should be considered in patients of any age presenting with symptoms that are persistent, atypical with no plausible patho-physiological basis.

Keywords: Factitious Disorders, Illness fabrication in Children, Ocular Munchausen Syndrome, Munchausen's Syndrome