Everyone wants to have their child pick up the best traits of each of his parents. If the dad is highly intellectual or if the mom is very attractive, one would wish to have the child of these two, inherit both qualities, so the child would end up smart and beautiful. Physical attributes are not the only traits that are passed on to children; our body’s genes also pass on health problems and diseases. What are these common inherited health problems? And How can we determine if the child is affected or not?

There are 6 common inherited health problems that affect a lot of families in the United States of America. First health problem is with vision, according to Dr. Stuart Dankner M.D., a pediatrician ophthalmologist in Baltimore; problems such as near sightedness, lazy eye, and color blindness are all hereditary. Parents can suspect if their child has visual problems if they observe him experiencing any of these symptoms, frequent headaches, squinting and tearing up especially after reading or watching TV. If eye problem is present in both parents, it is best to have the child regularly checked by an ophthalmologist. The second health problem is eczema; a skin disorder characterized by dry, red, itchy skin patches believed to be caused by an allergic reaction to certain irritants such as extreme weather, egg and dairy products. Eczema is easy to spot, and if the parent suspects her child of having such condition, it is advisable to seek consult from a specialist. The third hereditary health problem is migraine; these severe headaches have a 50% chance of getting passed on if one parent has it, more so if both of them have it. Similar to how adults manifest migraine, children will also feel a throbbing pain on the front or sides of the head, usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting as well as sensitivity to light and sound. As always, it is always best to consult a specialist to manage and treat this condition. The fourth problem is Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, the major symptom of this disease is abdominal pain and alternating diarrhea and constipation. If found to have IBS, consult with a pediatrician and modify the child’s diet eliminating food that triggers such condition. The fifth health problem that can be passed on is allergies; there is more than 50% chance of inheriting allergies if either of the parents has it. Allergies can be triggered by different sources and can manifest in various ways such as colds, runny nose, skin rashes, eye swelling and in severe cases breathing difficulties. The child’s pediatrician might prescribe mild antihistamines to manage allergies. The final health problem that can be inherited by the child is psychological and emotional issues. Personality disorders, mood disorders and several anxiety disorders are highly genetic and children are strongly predisposed. To spot children who might be experiencing psychological or emotional disturbances, observe the child for depression, unusual sadness, irritability, and mood swings.

Early detection of these hereditary health problems is as important as treating the disease itself. Be very observant and always be wary of what your child has, learn how to spot the unusual.