Chest, skin conditions dominate hospital reports in new survey

A new health survey has revealed that respiratory and skin infections were the leading causes of illness among Kenyans last year, raising concerns about living conditions and access to care.

According to the Economic Survey 2025, chest infections alone accounted for over 19 million cases, representing 30.2% of the 66.2 million disease cases reported in outpatient visits.

This marked an increase from the previous year, when chest infections stood at 22.4%.

Respiratory illnesses, including asthma and chronic bronchitis, affect the lungs, nose, and air passages.

Experts attribute the increase to air pollution, dust, and weather shifts that expose people to respiratory risks.

Malaria was the second most common illness, responsible for 5.7% of all recorded cases.

Though slightly down from the 5.3 million infections seen the previous year, malaria continues to pose a serious health threat, especially in areas where the disease is common throughout the year.

Other diseases that remained widespread include skin conditions, diarrhoea, and urinary tract infections.

Each of these accounted for more than 4% of the total outpatient cases.

These illnesses, which are often linked to hygiene and water quality, continue to affect large numbers of people across the country.

Joint and bone-related conditions, such as rheumatism, affected 2.6% of the population.

The increase in these conditions reflects the effects of old age and the physical demands many people face in their daily work.

Overall, Kenya reported a 24.6% drop in the total number of disease cases compared to the previous year.

While this could point to improved health, the decline also came during a major shift in the country’s healthcare system.

The report notes that the rollout of the Social Health Authority, which started registering citizens in July 2024 and fully launched in October, may have affected hospital visits.

"Registration of citizens to SHA began on 1st July 2024, while the roll out was from 1st October 2024," the report indicates.

Some health officials believe the drop in reported cases may not reflect actual health improvements but rather reduced access to treatment or confusion during the rollout.

The findings have led to calls for more health education, better sanitation, and investment in preventive care.

Public health officers say more attention should be given to rural and densely populated areas where people are more exposed to infections and have limited access to information and clean environments.

The report also included an unusual entry: one patient was diagnosed with Guinea-worm disease, a parasitic condition thought to be wiped out in Kenya.

The disease is caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a worm that causes severe pain and disability.

This comes as a surprise, as Kenya was officially declared free of the disease in 2018 after years of effort to eliminate it.

The appearance of a new case is expected to prompt health checks and investigations, with experts warning that vigilance is still needed to prevent a return of old diseases.