A recent study from Norway devised a new genetic test that enables physicians to predict the severity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in children. The new test determines the severity based on DNA profiling, scoring system, and statistical model. This article excerpts the features of this test. IBD is characterized by relapsing inflammation in the intestine coupled with abdominal pain and diarrhea. IBD is categorized into two subgroups- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Pediatric IBD in prepubertal age (before the growth spurt) have detrimental effects such as lack of growth, pubertal delay, and weight loss. The children with the most disturbed microbiota profiles (dysbiosis) had the most extensive IBD. Challenge in detection: The detection of IBD is challenging because the symptoms are common to some other gastrointestinal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome. To address…
