Doctor examined an 8-month-old with rashes in several places — what the mom revealed about the baby’s medical history concerned him even more
Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their child receives all necessary healthcare services and mandatory vaccinations from birth. However, some parents may underestimate the importance of health choices for their children due to misinformation and a lack of commitment to their responsibilities as caregivers. Similarly, one mother got a difficult reality check during a hospital visit. Kayle Santiago, who is a physician and posts on Threads as @iamkayles, shared a heartbreaking encounter on November 9, 2026. He saw an eight-month-old baby with rashes on its hands, feet, and groin. What the mother said next made the doctor deeply concerned and feel bad for the baby.
Kayle said the baby was just eight months old and had never received a single vaccine because the mother was afraid of them. The child was brought in with rashes on their hands, feet, and groin, with the mother searching for answers. This revelation by the mother left him extremely troubled. Kayle couldn't understand why the mother would seek medical help for her baby while still refusing the protection vaccines offer. He asked her directly, "Why bring your baby for a consultation if you don’t believe in vaccines? Why deprive your child of the protection they deserve?" Kayle could not help but feel bad for the baby that had to bear the pain of rashes just because of the parents' fear. He said, "It's heartbreaking to see a child miss out on essential protection because of fear and misinformation."
Kayle stressed that he wasn't trying to judge parents, but as a physician, he knows how serious the consequences of missing essential childhood vaccines can be. He said he couldn't help but feel sad for the little one, who had no say in the decision. Many others on Threads also found the mother's carelessness concerning. @carlavalli58 had a blunt response, writing, "I'm done with those people. Darwin will take care of it.” Meanwhile, @63beverleybrown questioned, “What was she doing in a hospital? If she doesn't believe in vaccines, she shouldn't be near doctors." Another user, @justjulia777.777, praised Kayle for speaking up, saying, "Good doctors should never bite their tongue when parents are irrational fools. Good job!”
Unfortunately, what Kayle encountered is not a rare instance. Other doctors have noticed parents delaying their kids' vaccines in recent years as well. A 2026 analysis by primary care pediatrician Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez on parents putting off childhood vaccinations was published on CNN. She explained that more parents are delaying their children's shots rather than openly refusing them, often because they're unsure or want more time to decide. But the result is the same—children leave the doctor's office without protection. She also pointed out that doctors are increasingly having to address parents' fears and misinformation while finding ways to make vaccination easier. Kayle questioned the mother about similar concerns. As a physician, he felt the need to inform the mother about what's right for the child.
For more of his posts, follow @iamkayles on Threads.