Genetic link
Mon, October 23, 2017 12:54 PM
My 2 year old daughter has diarrhea and was put on probiotics by her pediatrician. No big deal, until I informed him that I have CD. He asked if anyone had talked to me about the genetic link of CD and UC and I almost lost it right then and there just thinking that I messed up my kid in any way.
He suggested that I keep a journal of her bowel patterns and things she eats (much like myself) so now I'm just holding my breath and praying. I'll deal with the pain and suffering but I can't deal with my beautiful human being going through this.
We did have "genetic testing" done while I was pregnant with her and nothing came up however, I can't recall if I had even mentioned I had UC (I was just diagnosed a month prior to finding out I was pregnant and then I pretty much thought that there was no way I had UC. Now I have CD) so there's a possibility it was never even checked.
Is there testing I can have done on my kids to see if there's a mutation in the chromosome or if there is a likelihood that they will develop this disease? I know there's an increased risk anyway, but for me it's more like a "prepare for the worst, but hope for the best" type of thing.
HeyArnold1122Joined Oct 12, 2017
Tue, October 24, 2017 9:43 AM
Reply posted for administrator.
HeyArnold1122
You did not mess up your kid. We understand your concern for your daughter’s health risk and your desire to find out more about her risk of developing Crohn’s or colitis. However, there is no test to predict who will and who will not develop Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Studies have shown that 5% to 20% of affected individuals may have a first-degree relative (i.e., parent/child, sibling) with one Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Your genes clearly play a role, although no specific pattern of inheritance has yet been identified. This means that right now there is no way to predict which, if any, family member may develop IBD. See our brochure A Guide for Parents , page 7 http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/a-guide-for-parents-2014.pdf .
Researchers still do not have an answer to what causes IBD. “Although considerable progress has been made in IBD research, investigators do not yet know what causes this disease. Studies indicate that the inflammation in IBD involves a complex interaction of factors: the genes the person has inherited, the immune system, and something in the environment. Foreign substances (antigens) in the environment may be the direct cause of the inflammation, or they may stimulate the body's defenses to produce an inflammation that continues without control. Researchers believe that once the IBD patient's immune system is "turned on," it does not know how to properly "turn off" at the right time. As a result, inflammation damages the intestine and causes the symptoms of IBD.
Individuals are exposed to environmental triggers throughout their lifespan. "Factors contributing to exposome of human beings are almost innumerable during a lifetime. They include dietary factors, air and water pollution, food additives, lifestyle factors, stress, hygienic conditions, drugs, infections and many more"( Rodgler, 2014 – request article from info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org). There is no way to predict if a person who has a family link to Crohn's Disease or colitis will ever develop the disease.
Joined Oct 12, 2017
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