‘Burning baby’: a case of Munchausen syndrome?

February 26, 2015 12:00 am | Updated April 02, 2016 03:04 pm IST - CHENNAI:

The baby, who is now nearly 2 months old, is ready for discharge —Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

The baby, who is now nearly 2 months old, is ready for discharge —Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Does the mother of the ‘burning baby’ have Munchausen syndrome by proxy? Those in the field of addressing child abuse seem to think this is a possibility.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a psychological disorder in which a caregiver either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child under her care is sick. In over 90 per cent of reported cases, it is the mother who is found to have this condition. The condition is controversial, and in some countries is considered a form of child abuse.

“From all that I have read, it definitely seems like the mother has this syndrome. It is vital that she be assessed appropriately and helped as soon as possible. Also, the child protection systems in the State must intervene in this case immediately,” said Vidya Reddy of Tulir – Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse.

M. Thirunavukkarasu, former south Asia representative of the World Psychiatric Association, also said this could be a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

The baby, the son of P. Karunakaran and K. Rajeswari of T. Parangini village in Villupuram district, was brought to Government Kilpauk Hospital on January 19 with about 10 per cent burns on his feet, when he was only 10 days old. Rajeswari said she had heard him screaming and found his feet on fire. In 2013, the couple had come in with their older son Rahul, and said he went up in flames spontaneously.

After over a month in neonatal intensive care unit, the burns have healed and the baby is now fit for discharge, said hospital dean Narayana Babu. “All tests reveal he is completely normal,” he said. The parents too, went through psychiatric counselling.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a need of some kind of the caregiver – a need for attention, recognition, or acknowledgment, said child psychiatrist Shiva Prakash Srinivasan. This need is fulfilled by bringing the child into a hospital with a medical condition, and getting attention,” Dr. Srinivasan said.,

“The behaviour is technically child abuse. But the forerunner – or the thought that led to the behaviour is caused by psychological distress. While it is absolutely necessary to treat the mother/caregiver, at no point should any child’s safety be compromised,” he said.

Other experts and doctors have pointed out that this could be a case of child abuse and needs careful investigation as well as treatment.

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