New Test to Predict Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract. It is a debilitating disorder that could lead to life-threatening complications. Though the exact cause of IBD is unknown, genetics, family history, immune system malfunction, childhood infection, and environmental factors are known to trigger its onset. New genetic test that helps to characterize intestinal microbiota may help diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children.