Munchausen syndrome by proxy: an experience from Nigeria.

We report here on a child who over a period of 8 years was admitted several times to hospitals in different states of Nigeria based on fictitious illnesses described by his mother. The child had various unnecessary, expensive and invasive investigations followed by treatment with harmful drugs. The evolution of this case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy is described in order to alert paediatricians in developing countries to a problem which is described frequently in more affluent societies. We believe this is the first such case to be recorded in West Africa.

PIP: The case is recounted of a child who was admitted to hospitals several times over a period of 8 years on account of fictitious illnesses invented by his mother. The first occurred when he was 3.5 years old in January 1984. His mother, a nurse, gave a history of intermittent fever for 3 months, loss of appetite and weight. He had been treated with ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and procaine penicillin. No abnormality was detected and his weight at 15.5 kg was appropriate for his age. No fever was recorded throughout 2 weeks in hospital, but he was given chloroquine for possible malaria and then discharged. At follow-up 6 months later, the mother complained of his wheezing. On examination he was normal and had gained 3.8 kg since discharge. The possibility of vernal conjunctivitis plus asthma was entertained and he was then placed on ketotiphen prophylaxis. There was an uneventful follow-up for 6 months. 5 years later in March 1990, his mother related that he had been treated from 22 January 1988 to 21 November 1989 for tuberculosis with streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. He was also treated with digoxin and Esidrex-K for suspected rheumatic carditis, after which at the University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, he was investigated from 11 April 1989 to 10 August 1989 and found to be normal. One year later in August 1991 she went to one of the authors complaining about polydypsia, polyphagia, and polyuria. Examination had revealed nothing of note. A clinical assessment for diabetes mellitus found the urine specific gravity persistently at 1.010. He was therefore put on carbamazepine (Tegretol) 100 mg t.i.d. After review by a pediatric nephrologist, the child was declared normal. During this visit, the mother and child were interviewed separately. He believed he was ill because his mother said so. A diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy was made. The mother was referred back to her doctor to arrange for psychiatric care. In Munchausen syndrome, patients fabricate a variety of symptoms and evidence of illness that have no organic basis. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a form of child abuse, difficult to diagnose, that could result in death. It is more prevalent in affluent countries with sophisticated medical facilities. Its rarity in developing countries may contribute to the difficulty of detection.

Infective endocarditis in children in the Guinea savannah of Nigeria.

Thirty-two children with 33 episodes of infective endocarditis were admitted into the paediatric unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria during an 8-year period (January 1982-December 1989). Thirty (94%) had underlying heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease was the pre-existing anomaly in 21 (66%) while congenital cardiac anomalies were detected in nine (28%). Cardiac failure, changing murmur or persisting fever drew attention to the disease. Bacterial isolation was achieved in 19 patients (58%), staphylococci in 11, and salmonella was found in three children. Others included Acinetobacter spp. in two patients, one of whom had a mixed infection involving alpha haemolytic streptococcus whereas three children had Klebsiella, pseudomonas or alpha haemolytic Streptococcus, respectively. Only six patients (18%) recovered. Abscondment rates were high (28%) and overall hospital mortality was 47%. Intractable cardiac failure and neurological complications were the most important events heralding death. There is a need for increased awareness and improved facilities for prompt and effective treatment.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with pneumonia in Zaria, Nigeria.

The prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children suffering from pneumonia was investigated, using complement fixation and growth inhibition tests. From the sera of 104 children with pneumonia, 32 (31%) showed a CF titre greater or equal to 1:64, while all the 52 control children of the same age and sex had a CF titre less than 1:16. Children 6-10 years of age had the highest positive titre (41%) while the age groups 3-5 years and 0-2 years had positive titres of 30 and 28%, respectively. Both sexes were equally affected (33% male, 29% female). Mycoplasma pneumoniae was isolated in two children whose CF antibody titres were 1:16. It is concluded that M. pneumoniae plays an important role as an aetiological agent of pneumonia in children in Zaria, Nigeria, and could be included in the routine diagnostic protocol of pneumonia, especially during the dry harmattan months when cases of lobar pneumonia are prevalent.

Congenital heart disease masking pulmonary tuberculosis in children.

A report on 2 patients in whom coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was partially masked by signs of congenital heart disease is presented. The cases illustrate the difficulties in making a diagnosis of PTB in such situation and highlight the need for a high index of suspicion.

An open, comparative evaluation of amoxycillin and amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid ('Augmentin') in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in children.

One hundred children with clinically diagnosed bacterial pneumonia were assigned at random to receive treatment with either amoxycillin (250 or 500 mg) or amoxycillin (250 or 500 mg) plus clavulanic acid (62.5 or 125 mg) 3-times daily, dosage and duration of treatment being determined by the severity of the condition. There were no clinically significant differences between the two groups on entry and the mean duration of treatment was 6.8 days in both. By Day 3 of treatment, significant differences in improvement in chest pain, dyspnoea, pyrexia and sputum production were noted in favour of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. The response to treatment was significantly better in the combination group with an excellent or good response recorded in 60% and 30% of patients, compared with 26% and 36% in the amoxycillin group. Only 2 adverse reactions were reported, 1 case each of skin rash and diarrhoea in the combined group. The overall clinical efficacy rate of 93.8% in amoxycillin/clavulanic acid-treated patients was significantly better than the 60.4% clinical success recorded in the amoxycillin group.

Heteropagus: a case report.

A rare case of heteropagus is reported. An apparently normal female neonate presented with a mass in the lumbosacral area which bore an additional limb, a pair of breasts with nipples and aerola, and an anus with a blind pouch. The mass with the appendages was successfully removed by surgery and the baby is progressing normally.