title: Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease among children in Poland. A prospective, population-based, 2-year study, 2002-2004.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Western countries is on the rise. No prospective studies have been conducted on the epidemiology of pediatric IBD in Poland. The aim of the study was to define the characteristics of new pediatric IBD and assess the incidence of new IBD among children in Poland between 2002 and 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient records from 24 pediatric gastroenterology centers servicing the whole population of Poland were collected. IBD diagnosis was based on clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histological features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 491 new IBD patients, representing an overall incidence of IBD of 2.7 cases/100,000 children/year. The incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) was 0.6, ulcerative colitis (UC) 1.3, and indeterminate colitis (IC) 0.8. The age-related incidence of IBD was 1.8 in the 0- to 10-year-old age group, rising to 3.7 for the 11- to 18-year age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall incidence of IBD (as well as CD, UC and IC) in Poland is lower than that in Western countries. The relative contribution of UC and IC to the overall IBD incidence is higher in Poland than in most Western countries. These findings may suggest a tendency towards under- or misdiagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Dzialdowska 1, PL-01-184 Warsaw, Poland. kasiabochenek@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karolewska-Bochenek
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lazowska-Przeorek
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grzybowska
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryzko
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szamotulska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radzikowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landowski
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krzesiek
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ignys
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fyderek
authors.forename: Mieczyslawa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czerwionka-Szaflarska
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jarocka-Cyrta