First described in 1951 by Richard Asher, the Munchausen's Syndrome (MS) is a factitious disorder where the patient is acutely and severely ill and he/she is able to mimic sings and symptoms s resulting in long hospitalizations, invasive diagnostic procedures and prolonged therapies with a variety of drugs and surgeries. The case of a 26-year-old woman with arthritis and subcutaneous enphysema hospitalized at the university hospital in the state of Ceará is described. At that time, the patient was a health professional and had serious family problems. A literature review is also carried out.
Munchausen syndrome; Artificial disease; Subcutaneous emphysema
