The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 48 No. 1 - Chronic Disease Management 2022

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – An Update for Primary Care Physicians

Lim Chong Teik
Ennaliza Salazar
Malcolm Tan Teck Kiang
Webber Chan
The Singapore Family Physician Vol 48 No 1 - Chronic Disease Management 2022
49 - 58
1 February 2022
0377-5305
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that is typically categorised into Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Traditionally, IBD was regarded as a disease of the western world. Newer epidemiological studies suggest that, with the turn of the 21st century, IBD has become a global disease with rising incidence in newly industrialised countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. There are also advances in the diagnostics and therapeutic armamentarium of IBD. In this review, we provide an update on the epidemiology, clinical features, investigations, and management of IBD. We also highlight the importance of vaccination in IBD and provide practical points for family physicians.