We review 28 patients with IBD (14 UC and 14 CD) diagnosed in a period of eight years (1982-1990). The age at the onset of symptoms was similar in both groups (8.1-8.7 years), but the delay in diagnosis was significantly higher in CD (16.2 months). Fever, growth retardation and oral and perianal lesions were more frequent in CD. Articular, mucocutaneous and hepatic were the more usual extraintestinal manifestations. All of them were more frequent in CD. The same comment can be made with respect to the abnormal laboratory test results. Colonoscopy including histological studies was the useful diagnostic method. An increase of the incidence of IBD it has been observed.