A 34-year-old Queensland woman has been arrested and charged after allegedly poisoning a one-year-old girl and posting a video of her in what police described as "enormous pain and suffering" to raise donations and build an online following.

Police on Thursday laid charges including torture against the Sunshine Coast woman after concerns were raised by medical staff at a hospital south of Brisbane, and said an extensive investigation was underway.

Investigators said the poisoning occurred between August 6 and October 15 when the woman gave several unauthorized prescription and pharmacy medications to a girl she knew without medical approval.

"The woman allegedly filmed and posted a video of the child while the child was in great pain and suffering," the police statement read.

"It is alleged that the content produced exploited the child and was used to attract monetary donations and online followers."

Detective Inspector Paul Dalton told media on Thursday afternoon that the child was being treated "for genuine, serious health reasons" but her condition deteriorated when it was alleged she began being deliberately poisoned Something has changed.

While she was in hospital, the woman allegedly posted videos of the girl on social media, and the account was said to have attracted more than 1 million followers but has since been deleted.

Dalton said social media attention helped one fundraising site raise more than $60,000, and the platform is seeking a refund.

The officer said police would allege money and building a social media profile were the motives.

He said the alleged attention-seeking fraud could have been life-threatening and that the child's physical health had improved but the condition was "serious" and could lead to death.

"(Medical) experts described that the child would experience severe emotional and physical pain and harm," he claimed.

Police said the woman ignored medical advice and "went to great lengths to obtain unauthorized medicines, including old medicines at home that could be used by others".

She was subsequently accused of "carefully concealing her continued use of unauthorized drugs" until medical staff reported the suspected poisoning to detectives on October 15.

Police "took immediate action to protect the children" and launched an investigation.

The woman was arrested in Underwood on Thursday morning and charged with five counts of wounding with intent, three counts of preparing a dangerous substance to commit a crime and one count each of torture, child exploitation material and fraud.

Dalton warned that the consequences of the charges could be "quite serious" if proven in court, with torture carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and child exploitation up to 20 years in prison.

The woman is expected to appear in court on Friday.