It Runs in the Family

Many common health conditions are passed from parents to their children, but that doesn’t guarantee your child will inherit allergies or migraines simply because you have them. However, it does mean your child is at an increased risk, so it is important to recognize signs of certain inherited health conditions early to prevent them from getting worse. Some common inherited illnesses are:

Allergies

If either parent suffers from allergies — seasonal, food or otherwise — a child has a 50 percent chance of also having them. If both parents have allergies, the percentage is even higher.

Allergy symptoms vary from one child to the next and can be characterized by watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, skin hives, throat tightness and trouble breathing. Food allergies may cause other symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.

The pediatric allergy and immunology specialists at Children's Hospital Colorado are leaders in allergy research and treatment. If your child displays allergy symptoms and does not find relief from over-the-counter medications, ask your family physician or pediatrician for a referral to a pediatric allergy specialist at Children’s.

Eczema

This condition — which causes the skin to become red, dry and itchy — affects about one in 10 children, usually before the age of five. More than half of these kids will outgrow eczema by their teenage years, and a physician can help identify triggers and recommend a moisturizing cream to soothe the skin.

If your child suffers from eczema, keep these tips in mind to minimize discomfort:

• Bathe in lukewarm water.
• Do not scratch the affected area.
• Drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated.
• Wear loose clothing.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Unfortunately, some behavioral conditions also can be passed from parent to child, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. If your child shows symptoms such as constant sadness, irritability, anxiety or severe inattention, speak to your pediatrician or family doctor about a referral to a pediatric behavioral health specialist at Children’s.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

If you suffer from IBS, your child is twice as likely to develop the condition as a child whose parents do not have it. Common symptoms of IBS include cramps, gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Children’s recently became one of only eight pediatric centers nationally to offer a new “camera pill” — known as M2A® technology — which is used to diagnose and manage diseases of the small bowel in children ages 10 to 18. The child swallows the pill, and as it passes through the bowel, the camera technology captures multiple images to help determine the affected area and develop a treatment plan.

Migraines

Migraine headaches also are common inherited conditions and are characterized by throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. These debilitating headaches begin around age eight but may occur sooner. Migraines can occur in younger children (ages five to eight) up to 10 percent of the time and up to 25 percent of the time in adolescent girls.

Migraines typically have triggers that can be determined by a specialist. Tonia Sabo, MD, neurologist and Director of the Headache Clinic at Children’s, is currently leading a study into the role of nutrition and vitamins in relieving migraines in children.

Vision Problems

Your children will probably view the world the same way you do. Nearsightedness, color blindness, lazy eye and other vision problems often are inherited, so if your child complains of headaches or frequently squints when reading or watching television, impaired vision is probably the culprit. Whether or not vision problems run in your family, schedule annual eye exams to detect potential complications early.

For more information about these and other health conditions, visit www.childrenscolorado.org.