Since there is no prospective national data on the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease
in the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI), we undertook a prospective survey to determine this
incidence. The incidence during 1998 and 1999 was 5· 2/100 000 per year in children aged
younger than 16 years. Those from an Asian background were over-represented and more
likely to have ulcerative colitis.