Background. - The aim of this work was to determine in Brittany the inciden
ce and main clinical pattern of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurring
during childhood. These data are compared to the previous epidemiologic dat
a available from the Northern France registry or around the world.
Methods. - Private and public Brittany gastroenterologists (2,836,418 inhab
itants including 618.049 children under 17 years of age) referred all patie
nts consulting for inflammatory bowel disease from January 1994 to December
1997 An interviewer-practitioner completed at the gastroenterologist's off
ice a standard questionnaire for each patient. Each case was independently
reviewed by four experts in a blind manner and made a final diagnosis of Cr
ohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or ulcerative proctitis and acu
te colitis (onset of symptoms < 6 weeks) or unclassified chronic colitis.
Results. - Among 1,309 cases recorded, 88 were under 17 years of age (6.7%)
: 43 (49%) had CD (including three possible cases), 14 (16%) had UC (includ
ing three proctitis), 24 (27%) acute colitis and 7 (8%) unclassified chroni
c colitis. The crude mean annual incidence (per 100,000 children) based on
definite and probable cases only was 2.5 for IBD, 1.6 for CD and 0.57 for U
C, without variation between 1994 and 1997. The male/female ratio was 2.3 f
or CD and 1.3 for UC. The mean time between onset of disease and diagnosis
was equal to 7.2 and 8.6 months for CD and UC respectively (median: 3 and 5
months). A familial history of IBD was present in 5 cases (8%). In CD, the
small and large bowel were involved in 58% of patients, whereas an isolate
d involvement of small or large bowel occurred in 15% and 23% of cases. Amo
ng the 14 UC, there were three proctitis and four pancolitis. Among 43 CD,
a granuloma was present in 48% of cases.
Conclusions. - In Brittany the incidence of CD and UC in childhood was simi
lar to the published data from Northern France. Clinical presentation and s
ymptoms were not different. However, the rate of acute colitis was higher a
nd the accurate incidence of IBD could be underestimated, requiring a follo
w-up to classify these cases. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques ef medicales
Elsevier SAS.