Parents' reporting of symptoms in their children: physicians' perceptions.

Abstract

Pediatricians and family practitioners were asked how accurately parents report young children's symptoms. They believe 5% conceal/fail to report, 8% minimize, 80% report accurately, 10% exaggerate, and 1% falsely report/induce symptoms. They report fewer puzzling cases in their own practices than these estimates would suggest. Health professionals should know the warning signs of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.