Crohn disease in Nepal: true rarity or gross underdiagnosis?

Gross and histopathological examination of a resected segment of ileum in a 72-year-old man with the preoperative diagnosis of small intestinal perforation peritonitis revealed the first-ever diagnosed case of Crohn Disease (CD) at the B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. In view of the recent reports on rising incidence of CD in neighbouring Asian countries, it was decided to perform an exhaustive literature search to find out the documented prevalence of CD in Nepal. It was surprising to find only a single case of CD from Nepal, occurring in the year 1980, to be documented in English literature. Further, the index case of CD presenting with acute abdomen is of interest since only about 100 cases of CD with small intestinal perforation have been so far reported worldwide.