when a parent or carer exaggerates or deliberately causes the symptoms of an illness in a child, it is known

When a parent or carer exaggerates or deliberately causes the symptoms of an illness in a child, it is known as Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII). This is a rare form of child abuse where the parent or carer tries to convince healthcare professionals that the child is ill or that the condition is worse than it really is. FII used to be known as Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, which is a related but distinct condition where a person pretends to be ill or causes illness to themselves rather than to another child. In FII, the parent or carer may exaggerate or lie about symptoms, manipulate test results, or deliberately induce symptoms by poisoning or other harmful means. This behavior harms the child, leading to unnecessary treatments, medical tests, or disrupted education. The parent or carer does not necessarily intend to deceive doctors but can cause significant physical and emotional harm to the child.