IBD is a chronic (long-lasting) condition that currently has no cure. With effective treatment, many children with IBD can remain free of symptoms for long periods of time.

Inflammatory bowel disease is sometimes confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) because some of the symptoms overlap. However, they are not the same disease, and they are treated very differently.

Key features

• IBD tends to run in families
• IBD is more common in some populations, such as Jewish people
• Bacteria, genes and the immediate immune response in the bowel wall are all important factors in the development of IBD
• Both Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) can occur in children; Crohn's is more common
• One of the common ages for IBD to begin is in adolescence
• UC and CD are becoming increasingly frequent in Australians
• IBD is not transmitted from person to person (like a common cold can be)