Buzz
A one-year-old girl contracted meningitis despite her parents' meticulous care, with the surprising cause being the common habit of adults when interacting with children.
“The sins committed by adults haunt both the mother and the child…”
It's a heart-wrenching confession mixed with a bit of regret from a mother from Ho Chi Minh City. Her one-year-old daughter is currently undergoing treatment for meningitis.
And the mother, named Phuong Ngan, despite being overwhelmed with worry, still decides to share her story as a cautionary tale for all parents, especially those with newborns.
This story was later shared by Le Mai Vy, a friend of Phuong Ngan, on her personal page and spread rapidly yesterday (10/4).
Quoting from the original article:
Her parents provided her with an extremely nurturing environment, investing in prenatal yoga classes, ensuring a balanced diet, and completing all vaccinations.
It's been globally advised against feeding babies directly from the mouth or kissing young children, as some infants have succumbed to illnesses transmitted by such actions. Saliva can carry various diseases and have unpredictable effects when introduced into a child's body. Yet, many still deny this reality and blame mothers for their supposed lack of childcare knowledge.
Misfortune struck the child; she had fevers, cried incessantly through the nights. At nearly one year old, she was diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease. But it didn't end there; she exhibited more severe symptoms, prompting a series of tests and spinal taps.
Who is moved! Who is compassionate! Who is furious! Only Mother stands by her child. Then meningitis was identified, luckily only one ailment was found. The child gradually recovers, but the sins committed by adults linger in the hearts of both mother and child.
Tears-soaked confessions blend with inner turmoil, a mixture of anguish and regret from a mother unable to protect her child.
Because, according to Phuong Ngan, the cause of her child's meningitis is a very common adult behavior.
Phuong Ngan shares: “It's been globally advised against feeding babies directly from the mouth or kissing young children, as some infants have succumbed to illnesses transmitted by such actions. Saliva can carry various bacteria and have unpredictable effects when introduced into a child's body.
When the child is awake, the mother is joyful. When the child is listless, the mother is filled with worry! Before receiving the diagnosis, mother and child experience sleepless nights. The hospital is crowded, stuffy, hot, and humid, a stark contrast to the beautiful home they live in...' – Sister Mai Vy, a friend of the baby's mother, recounts.
No one can comprehend the mother's utmost agony when she's only allowed to stand behind the door of the waiting room as doctors perform a spinal tap on her child. Hearing her child's cries for help, both mother and child weep.
No one else understands the feeling of seeing the bloodied wound on her child's face, seeing her child weak and in pain, unable to eat and in need of strong antibiotics.
Thankfully, this morning brought a conclusion, ruling out other possibilities like Kawasaki disease. The diagnosis: active treatment for Meningitis.
“Do no harm to any more babies!”
After reading Phuong Ngan's heartfelt sharing, many parents expressed surprise as they also have young children and realize their own relatives often make this mistake.
One user commented: “Sometimes I recognize that kissing the child isn't good, but then I brush it off out of respect and thinking it won't do any harm.
But little did they know that seemingly affectionate actions of adults towards children would lead to terrible consequences, being the cause of children contracting meningitis.”
Mothers should reject all kisses that anyone wants to give to their child, especially when the baby is under 6 months old. Furthermore, even parents themselves should refrain from kissing the child to prevent similar consequences.
Even though others might get upset or feel offended, mothers should let them accept it gradually. Because when kissing a baby, especially on the face, lips, or nose, the baby's weak immunity makes them susceptible to respiratory infections, transmitted through saliva.
Instead of kissing, holding hands, suggest gentle foot massages or simply admiring the baby. Before approaching the child, mothers and adults need to clean themselves thoroughly, washing their hands with soap.
Across the globe, numerous newborns have paid with their lives simply due to the affectionate habits of adults, such as kissing and cuddling. This awareness must take root in the minds of each and every adult.
- 30 baby porridge recipes for 6-12 months old
- Top 5 best breast pumps
- Complete newborn essentials checklist
