Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (now called factitious disorder imposed on another) is a mental health condition where a caregiver, often a parent, intentionally causes or exaggerates a child's medical symptoms to gain attention or sympathy. The caregiver may falsify symptoms, manipulate test results, or even induce illness in the child. This behavior is motivated by a need for care, concern, or sympathy, rather than for profit or revenge. It's a serious form of abuse that can harm the child's health and well-being, and it requires prompt medical and psychological intervention to protect the victim and address the caregiver's underlying issues.