This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
Published on June 7, 2020, data from Kiambu Level 5 hospital reveals that patients suffering from upper respiratory tract infections led the pack of those who visited the hospital from July to December 2019.
According to the hospital's outpatient summary, 2,363 children under the age of 5 were treated for upper respiratory tract infections during this period, while 2,775 adults also sought treatment for the same condition.
Health officials are warning residents not to take upper respiratory tract infections lightly, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing and sharing similar symptoms in some cases.
Children treated at the hospital for other conditions included 948 cases of diarrhoea, 706 cases of other diseases of the respiratory system, and 540 cases of skin diseases.
Adults, on the other hand, were treated for urinary tract infections (UTI) with 2,378 cases, diarrhoea with 1,025 cases, other diseases of the respiratory system with 896 cases, and suspected malaria with 819 cases.
Kiambu County Director of Meteorological services, Ms Madgalene Gateri, advised residents to take necessary precautions against COVID-19 and cover themselves properly during the cold season.
Residents are also urged to seek medical attention at primary health institutions, such as dispensaries and level 3 and 4 hospitals, which can refer patients to level 5 facilities if needed.
