In 1964, Green and Solnit1 described
a group of 25 children ages 17 months to 14 years old with a history
of a condition perceived, and oftentimes physician-endorsed, as
life-threatening (eg, prematurity, seizures, congenital cardiac
disease, pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, head trauma). Despite recovery,
these children were then inappropriately considered by their parents
to be at heightened ongoing risk for premature death. Although the
majority of the precipitating illnesses occurred within the first 2
years of life, the parent–child relationship was persistently
altered, generating in later years maladaptive behaviors such as
separation difficulties, infantilization, bodily overconcerns, and school
underachievement. Vulnerable child syndrome (VCS) is currently viewed
as an extreme manifestation of persistent and unfounded parental
expectations of medical vulnerability after a real or perceived
health threat to a child. The high parental perception of child
vulnerability (PPCV) significantly increases use of acute medical
care, attention to behavioral and developmental problems, and parental
distress.