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crohn's disease passed on to children

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/31/2008 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
My boyfriend has just found out he has crohn's. But we have two children and we are worried they might get it. Does anyone know what the chances are of them getting it?
Posted 5/31/2008 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
There have been posts of the nature that does point to CD being hereditary
I know I truly believe it
BUT that does not mean it will be 100 %

I want to welcome you to HW and let you know to read back thru some of the old posts and the mom's with kids that have CD I know will post as will others
It is always slower on the wknd
STAY with us and dont stress out ....
Check out Resources as well .......

Take care and again Welcome......LYN
Posted 5/31/2008 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
There's a genetic component, but that's not the be all/end all. For instance, no one else in my family is sick. There are lots of other factors that may contribute. There's something called the diathesis-stress model. It says that a person can have a genetic susceptibility to an illness, but it needs an environmental trigger. Also, there's been some discussion lately about johnes disease in cows contributing to crohn's in humans. I undrstand your concern; I have 2 kids. But, my philosophy is that there's no sense worrying about what might be, especially if you can't control it. After all, what can you do even if it was certain they'd get it? Best Wishes!
Posted 5/31/2008 9:04 PM (GMT 0)

Here's a link about this being discussed here at HW a short time ago...

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&p=1&m=1097650

 My mom has UC (also an IBD) and I have crohns, so far I'm her only child out of 6 that got IBD like her.

According to research if one parent has IBD (either CD or UC) their offspring has an estimated 10- to 15- fold increased rish of developing IBD compared with those who don't have a parent with IBD....parents are not necessarily the only way it can be passed down.

Also, smoking (including second hand smoke) is one known trigger for CD specifically.

:)

Posted 5/31/2008 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
We believe there are members in our family that have it besides myself. We think some had mild cases and never got treatment. Then there is my Aunt that I'm darn sure has it, but hasn't been diagnosed yet.

But it doesn't seem to pass down that directly in my family. Neither of my parents have it for instance. So I'm hopeful that it will skip my ds.

I look at it this way though. Every family has something bad in it, that can be passed down. It's just a part of life.
Posted 5/31/2008 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
NO one in my family has it that we know of. That is about six generations. Mine started in the military and I think an sting and infection started it.
Posted 5/31/2008 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
No one in my family has it either and I come from a pretty big family. Unless Great grandparents had it many years ago.

But I'm like someone else said, we can't predict the future and why worry about it? My son is 2 and if he should come
down with it, I'll be right there by his side. With me having it he will have all the help he can possibly have.
Posted 6/1/2008 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
I have CD and my hubby is suspected of having it (no one in either of our families has it). Our first child is coming this summer, but we've decided not to be concerned.

What I've been told is that when one parent has CD the chance of a child getting CD is not significantly greater than the general population (I forget the percentage). The rate is higher when both parents have IBD, BUT you have to remember many people have genes linked to this disease and they never get sick. Genetics is only one factor. There also needs to be a trigger. Your children may not have the genes to be susceptible and even if they do, it may never be triggered. I don't think it is worth worrying about. If you have to deal with it down the road, no one would be better prepared.
Posted 6/1/2008 3:34 AM (GMT 0)

inflamed said...
I have CD and my hubby is suspected of having it (no one in either of our families has it). Our first child is coming this summer, but we've decided not to be concerned.

What I've been told is that when one parent has CD the chance of a child getting CD is not significantly greater than the general population (I forget the percentage). The rate is higher when both parents have IBD, BUT you have to remember many people have genes linked to this disease and they never get sick. Genetics is only one factor. There also needs to be a trigger. Your children may not have the genes to be susceptible and even if they do, it may never be triggered. I don't think it is worth worrying about. If you have to deal with it down the road, no one would be better prepared.

According to research if one parent has IBD (either CD or UC) their offspring has an estimated 10- to 15- fold increased rish of developing IBD compared with those who don't have a parent with IBD....parents are not necessarily the only way it can be passed down.

 

:)

Posted 6/1/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
From a journal on pubmed or jstor (I forget) the risk is about 2% if parent has an IBD (which is academically researched), and I have seen it as high as an estimated 8-20% in some books (which I still question the validity of because I did not see an academic cite), but in all honesty all you can do is observe and deal with things as they come. Believe me I am much more concerned about their car and home safety then them developing this disease, their risk statistically is much higher there. (this is no reflection on you, it is just a statistically their are more at risk in the car and from home accidents, then crohns disease)

To answer your question their risk is low. Granted having one parent with this DD does increase their chances of getting it in comparison with children who do not have parents with this darn disease (who are still at risk of developing this disease), but there really is not much you can do to stop it all you can do is be vigilant.
Posted 6/1/2008 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes I wonder if it can be passed up.  Just kidding.  My daughter was diagnosed with Crohn's when she was 12.  Now 27.  I was diagnosed 2 years ago.  We both do worry about my granddaughter.  She is 7 and is as tiny as they come.  34 lbs.  She also always complains about tummy problems.  Her peditrician is aware and it's possible she complains about her tummy because she hears her mom and grandma talk about our tummies. 
Posted 6/1/2008 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Vicky
My Cait has c/o about her tummy and many of her bowels movements are painful

She has seen me at the worst and has had to clean up after me having accidents

I am having her checked but my doc thinks it is the same thing as what your GD is going thru.......

Cait is always on the go and is not taking the time to eat properly IMHO

I DO know I will be there IF it is .......
But I seriously dont think it is the case.........
MY GMA and MOM both had Diverticulitis and I believe Mom also had IBD

Take care........LYN
Posted 6/2/2008 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
My Mother has UC & Lupus, her mother has Fibromyalgia and IBS. I have Crohn's. My brother is healthy. All my mother's brothers (3 of them) are healthy. No one else in my family shows signs of UC or Crohn's.
Posted 6/2/2008 7:14 PM (GMT 0)

My doctor said that it is more likely for siblings to have Crohns than for a parent to pass it on to a child.

However, I have crohns, and my grandmother has crohns.  My mom doesn't have hardly any symptoms.  But, my grandmother and I have almost the exact same complications and symptoms.  She has had 3 bowel resections and I am looking like I might have to have one this summer.

So, who knows really.  My sister went in last week, just make sure about things, and hasn't heard back yet. 

Posted 6/2/2008 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

pianogrl said...

My doctor said that it is more likely for siblings to have Crohns than for a parent to pass it on to a child.

However, I have crohns, and my grandmother has crohns.  My mom doesn't have hardly any symptoms.  But, my grandmother and I have almost the exact same complications and symptoms.  She has had 3 bowel resections and I am looking like I might have to have one this summer.

So, who knows really.  My sister went in last week, just make sure about things, and hasn't heard back yet. 


Researchers know...

According to research if one parent has IBD (either CD or UC) their offspring has an estimated 10- to 15- fold increased rish of developing IBD compared with those who don't have a parent with IBD....parents are not necessarily the only way it can be passed down.

This is the conclusion they've come to learn as of now...it's not to say that it can't skip generations but there is definitely a link to a parent having IBD and the increased risk of their offspring developing it as well...my mom has UC.

:)

Posted 6/3/2008 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
This is a personal answer, not a medical one.

When I was diagnosed, I KNOW that my parents racked their brains trying to figure out if there was something that they could have done differently. For the first couple years, they felt a lot of guilt, I think, as I tumbled through surgeries and an official diagnosis. That being said...

I am thankful for EVERY day that I am on this earth, crohns or not. If you give your kids the kind of love my parents gave me, everything will turn out fine.

Best of luck to you and yours.
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