Written by Yvonne Misando
Over the last 20 years, more and more kids have been getting long-term illnesses that affect their daily lives and need regular medical care. In the United States, nearly one out of three kids aged 5 to 17 now has a chronic illness like ADHD, autism, or asthma. That’s a big increase from past years, with around 25.7 million young people aged 5 to 25 living with these conditions.
Chronic illnesses in kids and teenagers have more than doubled over the past 60 to 70 years. Some of the most common ones are asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and conditions like cerebral palsy that affect development. More advanced medical tools, better healthcare, and environmental factors like poor living conditions and health problems before birth have played a role in this rise.
In Australia, 43% of children have at least one chronic illness, including asthma and mental health problems. Other common conditions include obesity and learning disorders. In the U.S., one in five kids is overweight, and by 2050, four times as many young people under 20 will have type 2 diabetes.
Over the past two decades, Kenya has experienced a notable increase in chronic conditions among children. As of 2023 21.9% of children under five suffer from stunting, a form of chronic undernutrition.
Additionally, 4.1% of children under five are overweight, a condition that can lead to long-term health issues.
While specific data on other chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy in Kenyan children over this period is limited, the World Bank highlights a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country. In 2017, approximately 60,000 deaths were attributed to NCDs and injuries, indicating a broader health challenge that may also affect younger populations.
This rise in chronic conditions poses significant challenges, including increased healthcare needs and potential impacts on children’s growth and development. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive strategies, such as improving nutrition, enhancing healthcare access, and implementing effective disease prevention programs.
These illnesses don’t just affect a child’s body, they also impact their emotions and behavior. Kids with chronic illnesses may feel sad, frustrated, or stressed. They also have to visit the hospital more often and sometimes stay there longer. These conditions can make it harder for them to do well in school, find jobs later in life, and might require lifelong medical care, which can be expensive for families.
To prevent more kids from developing chronic illnesses, we need to act early. That means better healthcare, stronger community support, and fair access to medical help for all families. Doctors and specialists should work together to treat these conditions, and we must make sure every child, no matter where they live, gets the care they need. By reducing unfair differences in healthcare and providing better social and medical support, we can help kids grow up healthier and happier.