The boy has a headache and a fever - nothing serious, his parents think, perhaps a sign of the flu. But when Dy Lekha's condition rapidly deteriorates, they take him to the nearest provincial hospital. There, the 10-year-old is treated for a week before slipping into a coma.
It is not until he is at the Kantha Bopha Hospital in Siem Reap that regains consciousness. Because after initial tests, our team discovers that the boy is suffering from meningitis - an inflammation of the tissue layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Dy Lekha is now being treated with antibiotics and steroids to quickly reduce the inflammation. Whether any damage remains is uncertain.
Further tests have revealed that Dy Lekha also has tuberculosis. The whole family is now being treated with antibiotics.
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