Albuminuric growth failure. A case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy

A five-year-old girl presented with profound growth failure, lethargy, vomiting and acidosis. A diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy was made after the demonstration of egg albumin, diphenhydramine and phenothiazine metabolites in her urine. Growth improved dramatically, but a subsequent child in the family died of sudden infant death syndrome.