Environmental Considerations

Address:
74% were living in a major urban area when they first had symptoms, 20% in other urban areas and 6% in a rural area. (This reflects general population distribution in Queensland.)

Employment:
One third were clerks or did home duties (reflecting higher % of females in survey). 20% were children or in early adulthood when symptoms first arose.

Causes of Relapse or Exacerbation

Total responses showed patients' beliefs as to causes to be emotion/stress (45%), dietary factors (32%), infections (10%), antibiotics (8%), other drugs (3%), other causes (2%). There was no significant difference between CD, UC and IC. 79% did not feel that they had relapses at any particular time of the year but of the 21% patients who did, the months of December and January (Australian summer) show the most instances and April (Australian autumn) the least.

• IBD Epidemiological Survey
• Summary of Findings and Database
• Diagnosis
• Genetic/Heritary Factors and Treatment of IBD
• Environmental Considerations and Cause of Relapse or Exacerbation
• Further Studies and Other Details
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