INTRODUCTION: This study examined the characteristics and trends in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among children in Singapore. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients under 18 years diagnosed with IBD over a 14-year period. Information on demographics, disease presentation, laboratory findings, radiological investigations, and endoscopic and histological findings were obtained from the patients' medical records. RESULTS: 32 patients were diagnosed with IBD, 30 of whom had Crohn's disease and 2 had ulcerative colitis. The incidence of IBD rose from an initial rate of 2.2 per 100,000 patients in the year 2000 to a peak of 11.4 patients per 100,000 patients by 2008. Median age of onset of symptoms was 10.5 years. There were more boys (63%) than girls in the group and a higher representation of Indians (34.4%). The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (87.5%), diarrhoea (75.0%) and weight loss (71.9%). Extraintestinal manifestations such as fever and arthralgia were found in over 50% of patients. The most common physical findings were perianal abnormalities (56.3%), mouth ulcers (37.5%) and growth failure (15.6%). Abnormal laboratory findings such as low albumin, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anaemia, thrombocytosis and high C-reactive protein were found in nearly half of the patients. Endoscopic and histological findings showed that a majority of patients (90.6%) also had evidence of inflammation in the upper gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: Paediatric IBD is on the rise. The higher occurrence in Indians, earlier onset and more florid presentation may suggest different genetic and environmental influences specific to Asian children.
INTRODUCTION: This study examined the characteristics and trends in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among children in Singapore. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients under 18 years diagnosed with IBD over a 14-year period. Information on demographics, disease presentation, laboratory findings, radiological investigations, and endoscopic and histological findings were obtained from the patients' medical records. RESULTS: 32 patients were diagnosed with IBD, 30 of whom had Crohn's disease and 2 had ulcerative colitis. The incidence of IBD rose from an initial rate of 2.2 per 100,000 patients in the year 2000 to a peak of 11.4 patients per 100,000 patients by 2008. Median age of onset of symptoms was 10.5 years. There were more boys (63%) than girls in the group and a higher representation of Indians (34.4%). The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (87.5%), diarrhoea (75.0%) and weight loss (71.9%). Extraintestinal manifestations such as fever and arthralgia were found in over 50% of patients. The most common physical findings were perianal abnormalities (56.3%), mouth ulcers (37.5%) and growth failure (15.6%). Abnormal laboratory findings such as low albumin, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anaemia, thrombocytosis and high C-reactive protein were found in nearly half of the patients. Endoscopic and histological findings showed that a majority of patients (90.6%) also had evidence of inflammation in the upper gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: Paediatric IBD is on the rise. The higher occurrence in Indians, earlier onset and more florid presentation may suggest different genetic and environmental influences specific to Asian children.
Authors: Ivana Kern; Olaf Schoffer; Wieland Kiess; Jobst Henker; Martin W Laaß; Ulf Winkler; Jürgen Quietzsch; Olaf Wenzel; Marlen Zurek; Katrin Büttner; Peter Fischer; Jan de Laffolie; Ulf Manuwald; Thoralf Stange; Ronny Zenker; Jens Weidner; Klaus-Peter Zimmer; Hildebrand Kunath; Joachim Kugler; Thomas Richter; Ulrike Rothe Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-01-04 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Bharati Kochar; Edward L Barnes; Hans H Herfarth; Christopher F Martin; Ashwin N Ananthakrishnan; Dermot McGovern; Millie Long; Robert S Sandler Journal: Inflamm Intest Dis Date: 2017-11-18