On August 18, the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital warned parents and caregivers against treating their children with aspirin when they show flu or chickenpox symptoms.
This warning followed an incident where the hospital saved the life of a three-year-old girl, who had earlier been treated at a private clinic for five days before becoming critically ill with breathing difficulties.
A social media post highlighting the hospital's efforts noted Reye's syndrome as an uncommon but severe condition. It cautioned parents against treating their children with aspirin or aspirin-infused medicines on their own. Aspirin poses risks, especially for children who are susceptible to reactions ranging from mild to severe, such as Reye's syndrome.
The post noted that the child was admitted to the hospital's emergency unit after she lost consciousness, experienced breathing issues and her liver became significantly inflamed.
"They diagnosed her with Reye's syndrome. Her life was saved by the emergency team at Kantha Bopha. She was on a respirator for 10 days. Today, the girl is back home, smiling,” the post said.
In homage to the late founder of Kantha Bopha, Beat Richner, a dedicated Facebook page expressed its gratitude to the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital emergency medical team in Phnom Penh. It extended its thanks for rescuing the young girl and conveyed appreciation to both the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation and the Kantha Bopha Switzerland Foundation.
The page also acknowledged all those who continually support the hospital's endeavours.