A new study has found a rise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among American youth, with nearly 100,430 children now diagnosed—marking a 22 percent increase in Crohn’s disease and a 29 percent spike in ulcerative colitis since 2009.
Researchers warn that the United States now has some of the world’s highest pediatric IBD rates, with youth in the Northeast most significantly affected.
Prevalence Varies by Race and Geography
The study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in Gastroenterology, represents what the authors call the most comprehensive assessment of pediatric IBD prevalence in the United States to date.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
