Signs of fabricated or induced illness

FII covers a wide range of symptoms and behaviours involving parents seeking healthcare for a child. This ranges from extreme neglect (failing to seek medical care) to induced illness. Behaviours in FII include a mother or other carer who:

• Persuades healthcare professionals that their child is ill when they're perfectly healthy exaggerates or lies about their child's symptoms

• Manipulates test results to suggest the presence of illness - for example, by putting glucose in urine samples to suggest the child has diabetes

• Deliberately induces symptoms of illness - for example, by poisoning her child with unnecessary medication or other substances

If you are worried for yourself or about a child then contact the NSPCC for advice and guidance on: 0808 800 5000 or  www.nspcc.org.uk