If liver disease is not caught early, inflammation, scarring and fibrosis can ensue, leading to cirrhosis and eventually liver failure. [Stockphoto]
For families whose children develop advanced liver disease, the greatest challenge is often not the diagnosis itself, but what follows: when doctors know the required treatment, yet it is not available in Kenya.
The case of 11‑month‑old Ethan Nolan, who died after a long battle with chronic liver disease while awaiting a transplant, underscores the gap in specialist care and the heavy financial toll on families forced to seek treatment abroad.
Dr Achieng Adem, a paediatric gastroenterologist practising in Kisumu, explains that chronic liver disease is a long‑term condition marked by ongoing injury to the liver. In its early stages, the liver can compensate for damage and continue functioning, so a child may appear healthy.
However, as the injury persists, fibrosis and scarring develop, gradually impairing the liver’s essential functions and potentially leading to cirrhosis and liver failure.
