Category
12 Categories of Warning Signs for FII
1.
Reported symptoms and signs found on examination are not
explained by any medical condition from which the child may
be suffering
2.
Physical examination and results of medical investigations do
not explain reported symptoms and signs
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3.
There is an inexplicably poor response to prescribed
medication and other treatment
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4.
New symptoms are reported on resolution of previous ones
5.
Reported symptoms and found signs are not seen to begin in
the absence of the carer
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Examples of patterns to look for
Symptoms and patterns of illness are acute, unusual,
puzzling, or inexplicable physiologically
Never seen anything like it before
Symptoms reported not confirmed by professional
assessment
Signs reported not confirmed by professional
assessment
Signs do not correlate with any disease
Investigations do not correlate with signs
Repeated hospitalisations, tests by medical disciplines,
fail to reveal conclusive diagnosis
Physiological findings consistent with induced illness
Escalating drug doses with no apparent response
Requirement for multiple medications to control a
routine problem
Multiple changes in prescribed medication often
because of reported side-effects
Includes over use and under use of prescribed
medication
New symptoms as old ones resolve
Consultation behaviour transfers to another child
Severity and/or frequency of symptoms reported is such
that the lack of independent observation is remarkable
Perpetrator is only witness of symptoms
Results of medical observations inconsistent with
perpetrator’s given history
Once perpetrator’s access to child is restricted, signs
and symptoms fade and eventually disappear
6.
The child’s normal daily life activities are being curtailed
beyond that which might be expected for any medical
disorder from which the child is known to suffer.
7.
Over time the child is repeatedly presented with a range of
signs and symptoms
History of unexplained illnesses or deaths or multiple surgery
in parents or siblings of the family
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11.
Once the perpetrator’s access to the child is restricted signs
and symptoms fade and eventually disappear
Exaggerated catastrophes or fabricated bereavements and
other extended family problems are reported
Incongruity between the seriousness of the story and the
actions of the parents
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Exclusion from PE
Exclusion from school
Unwarranted and often extreme dietary restrictions
Wearing dark glasses
Confined to a wheelchair
Limiting social contacts
Multiple symptoms
Multiple doctors
Complex medical history in perpetrator
Psychiatric problems in perpetrator
Multiple illness in siblings
Dramatic recoveries in hospital
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Claiming child has terminal illness when this is not the
case
Failure to attend for outpatients, investigation or
admission inconsistent with serious parental concern
Medical concerns at inability to identify cause, not
matched by perpetrator
Claims a diagnosis has been made but subsequent
communication shows it has not
Claims advice has been offered when it has not
Changing or inconsistent stories
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12.
Erroneous or misleading information provided by parent
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