Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consist of two types of chronic intestinal disorders namely Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.1 Crohn’s disease is a transmural inflammation affecting any part of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly terminal ileum and the perianal region. It is frequently associated with complications including abscesses, fistulas and strictures. On the contrary, ulcerative colitis is characterized by mucosal inflammation and is restricted to the colon (Table 1). The incidences of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are highest in the West with annual rates of 24.3 per 100,000 and 29.3 per 100,000 persons, respectively. However, with rapid urbanization their incidence is also rising in parallel in the Asian countries. Nevertheless, all the developed countries in Asia do not share a similar incidence. India leads the Southeast Asian countries with an escalating incidence and prevalence of IBD. Near about 25% of patients with IBD are diagnosed in the first 2 decades of their life, among which majority of them are diagnosed in their childhood with an increased incidence in the early second decade of life. Furthermore, various studies have also demonstrated an increased incidence of IBD; particularly in adolescents. The exact etiology of IBD is unknown; however, the environmental factors, genetic factors and immune responses have been considered to be involved and functionally integrated in the pathogenesis.