Childhood Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), once considered uncommon in India, is being diagnosed more frequently among children in Bengaluru. Doctors say the rise reflects both a possible increase in cases and better awareness, diagnosis and access to specialised care.
Changing Diets and Urban Lifestyles
At the Smiles Institute of Gastroenterology, doctors recorded a 12% rise in childhood IBD cases in the past six months, while 886 children were diagnosed over the last five years. Specialists link the trend partly to greater consumption of ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks and packaged snacks, along with lower physical activity and changes in the gut microbiome.
Moreover, doctors are seeing very-early-onset IBD in children below six years. Rapid urbanisation, lifestyle changes, pollution and passive smoking may also contribute, particularly among older children.
Symptoms Parents Should Watch
As per The New Indian Express, doctors are urging parents not to dismiss recurring abdominal pain, unexplained diarrhoea, blood in stools, poor growth, weight loss or reduced appetite as ordinary stomach infections. About 25% of IBD patients develop the condition before the age of 18, and the disease can affect even infants and very young children.
Focus on Healthier Habits
Doctors have welcomed Karnataka’s measures to improve children’s diets, including restrictions on the sale and promotion of junk food around schools. They also stress the importance of healthier food choices and regular physical activity to support children’s overall health.