TO the outside world she was a loving mum who had a very sickly young son.

But after 115 hospital visits in three years, she has been banned from contacting her nine-year-old child -- and his three siblings -- before they turn 18 amid grave fears that her behaviour could lead to one of them being harmed or even killed.

The "extreme" order was made after the Children's Court heard the woman showed signs of Munchausen syndrome by proxy -- a form of child abuse where parents repeatedly invent illnesses for their children because they crave attention and sympathy. She denies the claim.

The mother has also been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder.