Permanent brain damage following acute clonidine poisoning in Munchausen by proxy

Neuropediatrics. 2001 Apr;32(2):90-2. doi: 10.1055/s-2001-13881.

Abstract

A child presented with recurrent episodes of lethargia for which he underwent several hospital admissions and investigations. A further episode culminated in respiratory arrest and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with permanent mental regression. Eighteen months later the mother was discovered while providing clonidine pills to the child; the mother appears to feature a Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / chemically induced*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clonidine / poisoning*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Heart Arrest / chemically induced
  • Heart Arrest / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia, Brain / chemically induced
  • Hypoxia, Brain / diagnosis
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy / diagnosis*
  • Poisoning / diagnosis*
  • Sleep Stages

Substances

  • Clonidine