What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Factsheet 1

Category: Digestive Health

Digestive Health

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause chronic inflammation in parts of the digestive tract. The two most common inflammatory bowel diseases are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Another less common form of IBD is a condition known as microscopic colitis.

Understanding more about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

It is estimated that there are 40,000 people in Ireland living with IBD.
This group of inflammatory conditions affects men and women equally
IBD can be diagnosed at any age, however the peak age of incidence is between the ages of 15 and 35, with a second smaller peak between the ages of 50 and 70.
The exact cause of IBD remains unknown. Recent research has pointed to several possible factors that may influence the onset of IBD, including genetics, gut bacteria, and environmental factors such as diet and stress.