will the kids get it? There's a good chance. People who suffer from IBS are more than twice as likely to have a first-degree relative with the same symptoms, according to research from the University of Sydney in Australia. "It's very common to see colicky infants whose parents have IBS or reflux," says Dan Levy, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "They may have a lower pain threshold than other babies."
signs they got nabbed: The classic symptoms are frequent crampy abdominal pain or alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. IBS usually appears during the school years, but precursors, like colic, may be apparent earlier in a child's life. "There's also a big emotional component," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., author of Mommy Calls. Flare-ups are common during challenging transitions in a child's life, such as going to school or even just attending a party he doesn't want to go to, Dr. Levy says.
what you can do: If you suspect your child has IBS, have him checked out by your pediatrician. "IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion," Dr. Altmann says. "We want to rule out the possibility that something more serious is going on, like inflammatory bowel disease." If the problem turns out to be IBS, it can usually be managed with lifestyle changes. That may mean avoiding certain foods that might be triggers, adding probiotics (the healthy bacteria found in yogurt), and/or teaching kids some stress-management techniques, such as relaxation exercises or yoga.??
Allergies
will the kids get them? There's about a fifty-fifty chance they will if you or your spouse suffers; if you both have allergies, there's an even greater chance the kiddos will, too, says Dr. Saal. But don't expect them to be sensitive to the same things you are. Remember, we pass on only the susceptibility to allergies, which can manifest in myriad ways.
signs they got nabbed: Frequent colds, sinus or ear infections, or a constantly runny, stuffy, or itchy nose can point to allergies. Same goes for itchy eyes, rashes, or hives. And wheezing or a chronic cough -- telltale signs of asthma -- may be the biggest tip-off that your child is destined to develop allergies because the two conditions so often go hand in hand.
what you can do: If any of these symptoms appear -- as they often do between the ages of 3 and 5 -- tell your pediatrician. For mild cases, he may suggest medications such as antihistamines (wait for the okay before giving one) and/or prescription nose drops, which may provide ample relief; if they don't, or if your child has severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, your doctor will want to pinpoint the problem with allergy tests -- either the skin-prick or blood-test type. If needed, other medications and immunotherapy (allergy shots) are available and can bring tremendous relief. But sometimes it's a matter of finding the right approach for your family. "I have pretty bad allergies, and a few years ago, I started noticing that my then six-year-old son had circles under his eyes and seemed tired and snuffly all the time," recalls Diane Umansky, a mom of three in New York City. "The pediatrician recommended antihistamines, but the two we tried made him really hyper and interfered with his sleep in a major way. He finally got relief after we got allergy-proof bedding covers and began vacuuming religiously." In other words, do what works!
Emotions run deep
It's not just physical vulnerabilities that your child can inherit from you. Certain psychological and emotional issues can also be a family affair. In particular, there's a strong genetic component to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as to several mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
While it may feel harder to reveal a history of mental health problems to your pediatrician, it's important that you do. That way, if your child develops certain warning signs, such as unusual sadness, irritability, anxiety, inattention, or a change in appetite, sleep, or ability to enjoy things, the doctor may be able to zero in on the cause -- and get your child help -- a lot sooner.6 Inherited Health Conditions part 3Originally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/14353-6-inherited-health-conditions-part-3
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