A mother’s heartbreaking experience of seeing her child confined in the ICU after alleged exposure to cigarette smoke has gained attention after it was shared by Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
The child, identified as Zayn, was rushed to the hospital after showing signs of severe illness, including weight loss, pale skin, labored breathing, and persistent cough. His mother, Richelle, recounted the terrifying ordeal.
“Nung sinundo namin ‘yung anak namin na si Zayn, na-shock kami. Kasi parang nangayayat siya. Maputla na. Hindi ako kinakausap. Hindi na rin siya clingy sa akin,” she shared. Doctors initially diagnosed the child with pneumonia, which they believe was caused by airborne exposure.
Richelle, who does not smoke, said the child had recently returned from a vacation where he may have inhaled secondhand smoke. The situation quickly worsened, leading to an ICU admission.
“Sobrang nakakadurog po ng puso! Kasi hindi naman po namin in-expect na aabot kami sa point na kailangan i-ICU ang bata,” she said, recalling the painful sight of her child being given strong antibiotics and hooked to multiple medical devices without immediate improvement.
Prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke, even indirectly, poses serious health risks, especially to children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), secondhand smoke can cause respiratory infections, asthma, lung disease, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warns that it increases the risk of pneumonia, ear infections, and long-term lung damage in young children.
