On 15/7, representatives from Cao Bang General Hospital reported a mother gave birth on the way to a medical facility. Instead of proceeding to the hospital, the family cut the baby's umbilical cord themselves using scissors and rough thread, then took the baby home.

After birth, the baby showed signs of poor feeding, severe jaundice, and constant crying. The family gave the baby honey and used a razor blade to make cuts on the baby’s head, face, and body in an attempt to treat the perceived illness. Subsequently, the infant experienced difficulty breathing, body stiffness, and cyanosis, prompting the family to take the baby to Hoa An Medical Center. The baby was then transferred to the provincial general hospital.

At the hospital, the baby was conscious but breathing weakly, with a fever of 38.8°C, rapid pulse, multiple cuts all over the body, and severe jaundice. Doctors diagnosed the infant with respiratory distress, a high risk of sepsis, umbilical tetanus, pathological jaundice, and severe skin trauma. The medical team initiated aggressive treatment with antibiotics, respiratory support, and comprehensive care.

The infant receiving care at the hospital. Photo: Hospital provided

The infant receiving care at the hospital. Photo: Hospital provided

Doctor Luong Thanh Long, head of the Pediatrics Department, stated this was an unfortunate case resulting from an unsafe home birth and the misuse of harmful traditional practices. Giving honey to newborns and cutting their skin is not only unscientific but also causes serious health consequences, even life-threatening ones.

Experts recommend that babies be delivered in properly equipped medical facilities with trained healthcare professionals. Any unusual signs in newborns, such as fever, jaundice, refusal to feed, difficulty breathing, or cyanosis, require immediate medical attention. The use of unverified, unscientific, or word-of-mouth traditional practices can lead to severe complications and even death.

Thuy Quynh