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Doctors Raise Alarm Over Rising Asthma Deaths in Kenya
Health experts in Kenya are raising concern over the growing number of asthma cases and related deaths, particularly among children living in urban areas where pollution and poor air quality continue to worsen.
According to the Kenya Asthma Management Guidelines, about 7.5 percent of Kenyans approximately four million people are living with asthma. Doctors say the condition is becoming increasingly common in towns and cities due to factors such as air pollution, dust, allergens, and changing lifestyles.
The World Health Organization estimates that asthma causes about 2,300 deaths in Kenya every year, despite the disease being manageable with proper treatment and care.
Urban Pollution Driving Asthma Cases
Medical specialists warn that asthma cases are rising faster in urban centres, especially among children exposed to traffic emissions, construction dust, and indoor pollutants.
Justus Simba, a consultant paediatric pulmonologist, said early diagnosis remains critical in controlling the disease.
“Asthma can be controlled, and children with asthma can live full, active lives. But the first step is recognizing it early,” he said.
Dr. Simba urged parents to watch for symptoms such as persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, especially when symptoms worsen at night or during cold weather and exercise.
He added that delayed treatment and poor disease management continue to contribute to preventable complications and deaths.
Doctors Raise Alarm Over Rising Asthma Deaths in Kenya
Families Struggle with Stigma and Limited Awareness
Healthcare providers say many families still struggle with misinformation and stigma surrounding asthma, making disease management more difficult.
Bliss Wario, a respiratory nurse at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, noted that some parents discontinue treatment prematurely or hide the condition due to fear and misunderstanding.
“These myths are dangerous because they prevent children from getting the treatment they need,” she said.
Children with poorly managed asthma often miss school, while parents live with constant anxiety over sudden attacks and emergency hospital visits.
Patients Call for Greater Awareness
Lynnet Mwikya, who lives with asthma, said lack of awareness can leave patients feeling isolated.
“Getting the right information and the right medication changed my life. We need more people to understand this disease so they can support those living with it,” she said.
Experts are now calling for wider access to inhalers and asthma medication, stronger public education campaigns, and increased support for healthcare workers handling respiratory illnesses.
Meanwhile, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital says its Respiratory Centre of Excellence continues to provide specialized care for children with asthma and other respiratory conditions as demand for treatment rises across the country.
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