Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Società italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica / Associazione ricerche in urologia
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Arch Ital Urol Androl · Mar 2008
Case ReportsRecurrent renal colic in young people: abdominal Munchausen syndrome--a diagnosis not to forget.
The Munchausen's syndrome (MHS) is a rare psychiatric disorder classified among the self-manipulated diseases. Incidence of Munchausen syndrome peaks in young-to-middle-aged adults, but it has been reported in patients of all ages (ie, childhood through advanced age). Diagnosing Munchausen syndrome is very difficult, but early diagnosis could to a considerable extent prevent the iatrogenic risks. ⋯ At this stage, suspicion was raised regarding the possible factitious nature of her problem and a psychiatric consultation was made. On the basis of psychiatric consultation and the symptoms resolution with simple intravenous saline solution infusions, the diagnosis of factitious illness (Munchausen syndrome) was confirmed. In the present case report, we stress the fact that the MHS is an underestimated medical problem and the necessity to evaluate the possible role of psychiatric disorders in the absence of pathological findings.