Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of disorders characterised by chronic, relapsing inflammation in the gut.The main forms of IBD are Cronn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The clinical course of both diseases can range from a mild form, in which the patient reaches long term remission without taking permanent medication, to a chronic active form, in which remission is only reached by permanently taking immunosuppressives and/orbioloqicals.' Approximately 61,000 Australians have lBO, with 1600new cases diagnosed each year. 2lBD can bediagnosed at any age, but has a peak onset between 15to 40years.