It was truly a heartbreaking event for any parent. Chakrit Yaemnam , and Ann Phatthira faced great distress when their beloved son Pho fell ill with Kawasaki disease, resulting in high fever, peeling skin on hands and feet, red eyes, cracked lips, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and weakened immunity, causing severe inflammation throughout his body.
Fortunately, he received timely treatment which improved his condition enough to be discharged from the hospital. However, he still requires continuous monitoring and regular health check-ups for the next five years. Recently, Chakrit attended the "GALA PREMIERE of Confession of a Shaman" at PARADE SQUARE, G Floor, ONE BANGKOK shopping center, where reporters asked him for an update.
Is Pho here with you today?
"Yes, he is here today."
How was Pho's condition when he was sick?
"It was severe. That week, after his lymph nodes swelled and his fever didn’t subside for two days, his eyes turned red and fever spiked. We decided to take him to the hospital because after initial care at home, as doctors advise to manage mild illness ourselves, we realized his condition was worsening and needed professional help."
Once hospitalized, his condition worsened and tests revealed he had Mycoplasma infection, a disease that attacks the immune system and organs. Pho, being very strong, experienced what the doctor described like a PAC-MAN effect: his immune system tried to fight off harmful cells but lost control and began attacking his own body, leading to Kawasaki disease.
This caused organ inflammation and led to MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children). At that point, all tests showed severe immune suppression.
The symptoms clearly indicated Mycoplasma infection and Kawasaki disease through peeling hands and feet, red eyes, cracked lips, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. Blood tests confirmed MIS-C as well, making it a triple threat attacking his organs, causing high inflammation reflected in lab values: liver enzymes skyrocketed from a normal cutoff of 40 to over a thousand, platelet counts jumped from 200,000 to 500,000, and three heart valves leaked.
The large artery supplying blood from the heart expanded to double its normal size, from about 1 millimeter to over 3 millimeters, a serious condition. Treatment ideally should happen within 7 to 10 days. Luckily, on the 7th day, lab results guided the doctors to the right treatment.
Treatment involved two steps: antibiotics to kill the infection and immune-boosting therapy through IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) administered via saline drip, given just in time on day seven.
After completing the full dose over about 10 hours continuously, Pho’s fever subsided, and his condition gradually improved. He was discharged after about a week.
Follow-up appointments show improvements: inflammatory markers and liver enzymes have decreased, though not back to normal yet. One heart valve on the right has nearly closed, but the two on the left remain leaky; the arteries are still enlarged but should improve over the next one to two months.
There's no need to worry because Pho is very strong and has a resilient mindset. He’s energetic, fights through the illness, and refuses to give up."
Where did Pho catch the Mycoplasma infection from?
"It’s impossible to pinpoint. It could have been from merely passing by someone coughing—Mycoplasma can spread through the air. It might even have been me, who recently coughed but wasn’t affected. The bacteria may have hidden inside Pho's body."
As Pho’s immunity weakened, possibly from overexertion or natural body weakness, the infection attacked. The doctor advised not to dwell on where the infection came from but to be grateful that treatment was timely and that Pho has recovered his brightness."
Has his physical condition returned to normal?
"His skin on hands and feet is peeling, which is a side effect. The skin is healing now; initially, it looked like newborn skin—red and tender. The peeling isn’t patchy but like thick dead skin shedding all over the hands and feet. The swollen lymph nodes initially resembled mumps but have nearly disappeared since hospitalization, with just a slight residual swelling still detectable."
What precautions should be taken from now on?
"There are no specific precautions other than self-care and exercise. The doctor recommends continuing swimming and playing basketball, gradually rebuilding strength. Pho has returned to normal life. Those 10 days were very tense, but with proper and timely treatment, recovery can be like this," (he gestures reassuringly).
Did Pho complain during his illness?
"He was very strong-willed. His body temperature reached over 41°C, and nurses had to wipe him down every 15 to 30 minutes. He cried in discomfort but endured because it was necessary to reduce the fever. At one point, he felt he couldn’t breathe; when his nose was cleaned, bleeding occurred due to heat-damaged blood vessels."
As a father, I stood there helpless but tried to stay calm and told him it was normal to feel hot, even though inside I felt like dying. I didn’t want to scare him or make him think it was abnormal or that something worse would happen."
Did you ever cry privately?
"He kept fighting. Those seven days passed in a flash. During that time, I still had to attend events and film, and help run a durian booth—the last of the season—with Ann, supporting each other and the team. Despite everything, it was a lively, memorable time."
Did the doctors say if he will fully recover?
"Yes, there is a good chance for full recovery, but he must have regular follow-ups, especially for the heart valves, over the next two months. Then, annual check-ups for about five years to monitor his condition and adjust lifestyle accordingly. The main message from the doctors is that he can do almost everything."
At first, Pho must understand to rest when tired. He’s only eight years old, so we try to explain this without harming his mental health or making him feel helpless. We aim for a balanced approach—letting him live a normal childhood while having someone nearby to remind him to rest if he feels fatigued, without treating him like a sick child."
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