Inflammed bowel issues common among youth

CHENNAI: Once considered a disease of the western world, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is increasingly becoming common in the country. Once triggered, it afflicts an individual lifelong and requires continuous treatment, said Dr KR Palaniswamy, consultant gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospital, on Tuesday to the press, while giving a brief about the forthcoming international conference on IBD in Chennai.

IBD represents a group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract. The tract comprises of mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines. “Public awareness is less about the disease. Today, there are many youngsters, especially college students and IT professionals, prone to IBD due to high stress, dietary changes, limited sleeping hours,” he said.

There are two common IBD diseases: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Dr V Balasubramanian, consultant gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospital, said that a research has found that nearly 6% people in North India are prone to ulcerative colitis. “However, not much population survey has been done on Crohn’s disease, which is most likely to affect women,” he said. The common symptoms include diarrhoea, bleeding ulcers, stomach pain and weight loss.

As many as 300 medical specialists from across the country are expected to take part in the conference on September 29 (Friday). An interaction with patients diagnosed with the disease has also been planned on the sidelines of the conference taking place at ITC Grand Chola.