Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch, has been treated by doctors for “water on the brain” and also has a chest infection, the royal palace has said.



It was the second official statement on the 87-year-old king’s health since he was admitted to hospital in May for what the palace said was a checkup.

Bhumibol, who came to the throne in 1946, is widely revered by Thais. Nervousness over the succession has formed the backdrop to a decade of political crisis in Thailand, where the military took power in a coup in May last year.

Examination of King Bhumibol showed he had water on the brain, or hydrocephalus, a buildup of the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain, said the Royal Household Bureau, which tightly controls news about Thailand’s royal family.

A further examination this month showed treatment had been effective and fluid levels in the king’s brain had stabilised.

“Examinations showed fluid in the brain had increased and a team of physicians asked permission to increase fluid drainage gradually of the brain and watch symptoms closely,” the palace said in a statement.

“An x-ray of the royal brain on August 5 showed water levels had decreased to close to the original volume,” the statement said, adding that treatment would continue until levels were fully back to normal.

Bhumibol left hospital on 10 May after seven months of convalescence following surgery last year, but was re-admitted weeks later.

Thailand has a strict lese-majesty law which makes it a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king, queen, heir to the throne, or regent. On Friday, Thai military courts jailed two people, one for 30 years and the other for 28 years, for insulting the monarchy.