Rescued cave boys ‘relatively strong’: doctors

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

 

THE BOYS rescued from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai are largely in good physical health but may experience some mental problems and need assistance to help them return to normal life, doctors said.

 

Dr Tossathep Boonthong, chief of Chiang Rai Provincial Public Health Office, said that as of yesterday morning eight of the 13 teenage footballers who were trapped inside the flooded cave since June 23 were being checked at Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital.

 

Tossathep said that medical check-ups showed the eight youngsters were in good physical health, but two of them were diagnosed with mild cases of pneumonia.

 

“Even though most of the rescued footballers’ physical health is relatively strong, they still have to consume only mild food so their digestive system can recover, as they have just been through a long period without food,” he said.

 

“Moreover, all of them also have to remain inside the quarantine zone at the hospital for seven days to make sure that they do not infect [others] with any diseases from inside the cave before they can go back home.”

 

The remaining five survivors were rescued from the cave last night. They will go through the same medical process and be quarantined at the hospital for seven days.

 

Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, who heads the Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said the reason for the quarantine was to ensure the efficient treatment of the survivors in case they have been infected with unusual or newly emerged diseases and to prevent an outbreak of any possible disease.

 

“It is very important for all rescued survivors to be quarantined for at least seven days, because their prolonged stays inside the cave, trapped by floodwater, have increased survivors’ risk of being infected by harmful bacteria or viruses from inside the cave, which may cause rare and harmful contagious diseases,” Thiravat said.

 

“This is because there are many species of cave animals that can transmit diseases to humans. For example, the bat is the natural host for the nipah virus and can spread this dangerous infectious disease to various kinds of mammals, including humans.”

 

He also said that after the survivors are allowed to return home, their family and medical teams should monitor their health for another week.

 

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Sorarit Kiatfuengfoo said that the physical health of the survivors is good and except for rehabilitation through diet and exercise, there should be no problem for them to start their normal daily lives again.

 

However, Dr Ananya Sinrachatanant, a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the mental health of all survivors remains fragile as they have just survived the traumatic event of being trapped for more than two weeks inside the flooded cave.

 

Ananya said that every person close to the 13 members of the football team has to support them with encouragement and understanding and ensure their smooth return to normal life.

 

She suggested that everyone should give them private space with their families after their return and refrain from asking them about what happened while they were stranded in the cave or blame them for their actions.

 

She asked the media and society to respect the privacy and rights of the survivors and make sure they do not distribute fake news or take part in social bullying.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349779

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-11

"Return to normal life'?  Sorry, but that won't be possible. They lads will be hounded mercilessly for months, maybe years, by media ghouls seeking ever more 'clicks' and eyeballs, thus advertising revenue.

Social media is merely more money for Zuckerburg and his ilk. In this respect the world was better off without the internet.

Those are some brave and tough little boars!!! And I hope they profit big time by their story ride the wave my little boars ride!!!!

1 hour ago, chingmai331 said:

In this respect the world was better off without the internet.

The Internets a terrible thing.................I would never use it

“Moreover, all of them also have to remain inside the quarantine zone at the hospital for seven days to make sure that they do not infect [others] with any diseases from inside the cave before they can go back home.”

 

no doubt this protocol will be in place for the thousands of tourists TAT has planned to visit the cave next year. 

Have the SEALs and doctor that have been with the kids since the 3rd July been quarantined as well?

 

Serious question. Virus and infection don't just hit young bodies, if the threat of spreading possible disease is there, then it should (logically) apply to all. 

40 minutes ago, Tug said:

Those are some brave and tough little boars!!! And I hope they profit big time by their story ride the wave my little boars ride!!!!

While I agree wholeheartedly, if they wanted to survive they had little choice but to tough it out!

We humans are incredibly resilient though the "Nanny state" tries to take that away, more interested in producing yet more little "snowflakes", they far more subservient & obedient after all ? 

"She suggested that everyone should give them private space with their families after their return and refrain from asking them about what happened while they were stranded in the cave or blame them for their actions."  

Here in the "real" world, we know this isn't about to happen.  I really feel sorry for these kids and their families because their not going to get any peace or privacy for a very long time.   Their lives as they knew it are over.  ?

 

 

10 hours ago, chrisinth said:

Have the SEALs and doctor that have been with the kids since the 3rd July been quarantined as well?

 

Serious question. Virus and infection don't just hit young bodies, if the threat of spreading possible disease is there, then it should (logically) apply to all. 

no, they gave the others cards entitling them to a free health check up in two weeks.

 

I think the quarantine is a bit of a smoke-screen. I'm not a doctor, but there is apparently good reason to manage their diet carefully and not just let them go eat Moo Kapraow right away. The quarantine is probably more for emotional/psychological reasons and to protect the boys, in their weakened state, from contracting outside diseases than it is to protect everyone else from bat diseases, since it was pointed out that you don't have bats 3km deep into a cave. Bats need to fly out at night or starve, so they roost close to the entrance and don't fly 3 km in (unless they get lost seriously lol).

11 minutes ago, khaowong1 said:

"She suggested that everyone should give them private space with their families after their return and refrain from asking them about what happened while they were stranded in the cave or blame them for their actions."  

Here in the "real" world, we know this isn't about to happen.  I really feel sorry for these kids and their families because their not going to get any peace or privacy for a very long time.   Their lives as they knew it are over.  ?

 

 

On the bright side, there's probably one of them that has a bright future as a cave tour guide if he can get over the PTSD.

The CNN medical specialist was surprised by the 7 day quarantine and basically said was an overkill as there is no previous protocol. A few tests and observation in 2-3 days would suffice unless something showed highly unusual...The hospital will milk their care as long as possible...bedridden vs playing scorer in ward?

 

Unfortunately, quickly turning it into a real soap opera....

They are all fine, send them home just as you would if there was no damn media. 

4 minutes ago, utalkin2me said:

They are all fine, send them home just as you would if there was no damn media. 

I disagree (for what it's worth).

After all the effort of finding them, then the massive and successful rescue operation (including one unfortunate death), it would be unforgivable if any of these boys, or the assistant coach, was sent home without a very thorough assessment of their physical and mental health, and then suffered any adverse effects.

Regarding the media. Maybe the PM could use his Section 44 powers and get a few people sent to "attitude adjustment". He seems to have no problem keeping a lid on the media when they criticize the junta.