Crohn's disease increases among young Koreans

The number of Koreans in their twenties and thirties who suffer from Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder, has soared by 40 percent over the last five years, according to a report released by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Thursday.

The rate among twenty-something people increased by 41 percent and that among thirty-something people by 47 percent, from 2009 to 2013.

The rate for the entire population increased by 29.4 percent, the report said. People shelled out 2.4 as much money at the end of the reporting period.

The condition may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and weight loss.

The underlying cause for the disease is not known. But it is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental, immune and bacterial factors that lead to the immune system attacking the gastrointestinal tract.

Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Jae won, who released the report, said, “It is necessary to have an examination if you have weight loss accompanied by diarrhea because Crohn’s disease can be developed for life and have complications.”

He urged the government to strengthen the pre-examination measures and conduct more awareness campaigns about the effects of smoking, and eating processed foods.