UC is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which the lining of the large intestine become inflamed. There is no official database which gives accurate figures but it is thought that at least 20,000 people are living with IBD in Ireland. Males and females are affected equally and patients can be diagnosed at any age, including babies and children. The peak age of incidence is between the ages of 15 and 35, with a second (smaller) peak from the 50s to 70s.