Chinese woman pierces her 10-month-old kid 600 times with needle as 'folk remedy' to cure fever

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A mother in Yunnan, China, allegedly pierced her 10-month-old baby hundreds of times with needles, believing it was a folk remedy. The child survived emergency surgery and is recovering. The case sparked outrage and renewed debate on child protection and harmful practices.

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A shocking case of alleged child abuse has surfaced from China’s southwestern Yunnan province, where a mother is accused of piercing her 10-month-old baby hundreds of times with needles, claiming it was a form of treatment.

Authorities investigating the case confirmed that the woman, surnamed Dao, repeatedly stabbed her infant son with needles in what she believed was a traditional folk remedy. The case came to public attention after a senior doctor shared details online, triggering widespread outrage across Chinese social media.

Infant admitted with fever and convulsions

According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), the baby boy was admitted to the People’s Hospital of Mojiang County in Puer, Yunnan province, on December 16 last year. He was brought in with a high fever and convulsions and was first treated by the hospital’s pediatrics department.

Doctors soon discovered that the child had suffered extensive injuries. Spine surgeon Dr Sui Wenyuan, an attending physician at the Spine Centre of Xinhua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, later revealed that the baby had been pierced with needles between 500 and 600 times.

Dr Sui shared the details in a video posted online, recounting what he described as one of the most disturbing cases he had encountered.

Needle lodged near the spine

The most serious injury occurred when Dao allegedly inserted a thick needle, commonly used for sewing shoe soles, into the child’s neck, SCMP reported. The needle broke inside the baby’s body and became lodged near the cervical spine, making emergency surgery necessary.

The doctor said the mother admitted that she stabbed the child whenever he cried, misbehaved, or showed symptoms such as fever or a cold. She reportedly believed the act could cure him or discipline him.

The surgery was especially risky because the parents could not provide clear details about the needle. Doctors were unsure of its exact shape or whether it had barbs.

According to Dr Sui, removing the needle incorrectly could have caused severe internal damage.

“We completed all necessary tests and successfully performed the surgery on the same day as the consultation,” he said, as quoted by a media outlet.

“The child had a high fever, possibly due to rust on the needle. However, three to four days after the operation, his temperature dropped, and he was transferred out of intensive care,” the doctor added.

Hospital transfer and recovery

The Global Times reported that the infant was later transferred to Kunming Children’s Hospital on December 22, 2025, for further surgery and treatment of an infection. After weeks of care, the baby was discharged on January 9 this year.

Local authorities later confirmed that the child is now undergoing rehabilitation at a medical facility in Mojiang county under the supervision of his father. Officials said medical staff have been assigned to provide rehabilitation support, nutritional care, and regular health monitoring.

Authorities confirm mother’s role

On January 21, a joint investigation team released an official statement confirming that the injuries were inflicted by the child’s mother. The team included officials from the Public Security Bureau, the health commission, the civil affairs department, and the women’s federation.

The statement said Dao used a traditional folk “needling” method and attempted to treat her son on her own. Authorities added that she has limited medical and scientific knowledge and displays anxiety tendencies, but showed no signs of psychotic illness.

The mother is currently under police investigation, according to the Global Times. No further details about Dao or her husband have been made public.

Online outrage erupts

The case has sparked intense anger and disbelief online, with many users describing the act as cruel and calling for stronger protection for the child.

“How terrifying. I cannot believe someone could be this cruel in this day and age,” one user commented, as quoted by SCMP.

“That child is so pitiful, born into the wrong family. Please do not let the biological parents raise him anymore,” another wrote.

“So heartless. She should have stabbed herself instead. Just imagine how much pain that tiny baby must have felt,” another comment read, according to the report.

As the investigation continues, the case has renewed debate in China over child protection, harmful folk practices, and the need for better public education on basic healthcare and parenting.