Chronic Factitious Fever in Puberty and Adolescence: A Diagnostic Challenge to the Family Physician

Abstract

Munchausen's syndrome and other forms of factitious illness have been reported in the literature.³ The possibility of factitious fever in children with diagnoses of F.U.O., however, appears to have been overlooked. Five such patients are described, with special attention to family interrelationships as etiologically relevant to the diagnosis. Emphasis is placed on the need for the family physician to consider the possibility of factitious fever early in the differential diagnosis of chronic, unexplained fever in an adolescent. Early psychiatric consultation is advisable in suspected cases since psychotherapeutic results have been favorable in spite of major management problems with the patient's family.