Does living in crowded houses offer protection against the development of inflammatory bowel disease?

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The credibility of the "Hygiene hypothesis" in patients with inflammatory bowel disease has been assessed. OBJECTIVE: This survey is aimed at finding an answer for the question "Does living in crowded or overcrowded houses protect against the development of inflammatory bowel disease?" PATIENTS AND METHODS: Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom who attended inflammatory bowel diseases' clinics during the period of the study and who fulfilled Leonard-Jones criteria were asked to complete a questionnaire. The participants were asked to respond to questions on age, sex, their birth rank, diagnosis, & number of brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. RESULTS: 60% of the participants had four or more brothers and sisters. Forty per cent of the participants grew in crowded houses (occupied the fourth birth rank). CONCLUSIONS: Our presented data do not support any role of the number of house inhabitants in the development of inflammatory bowel disease.