What are the Chances My Children Will Inherit Ulcerative Colitis Or Crohn's Disease

If you are like me, and have one of these diseases, you may be concerned about the likelihood of your children getting it. Here are some basic facts regarding how likely they inherited the disease, what age should you expect their first flare, and even what races are affected the most.

Is Ulcerative Colitis Hereditary?

Though there are familial relations, your child has a higher chance of NOT having either of these diseases than getting it, even if one parent who has either one. With a close relative, there is only a twenty percent chance of having an IBD if a sibling or parent has the disease. At this time, it is impossible to genetically know who is going to get this disease and who will not.Oddly enough, because the diseases are so similar, if a parent or sibling has either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's, the odds of having the opposite disease is just as likely as sharing the same disease as your loved one.

In some cases, like my own, if both parents have the disease, I have read that the odds of getting one of these increases to 80 percent! Now, I'm not so sure on this statistic, since I did not get it from a medical journal. Plus, both my parents have ulcerative colitis, and I am the only one who inherited it out of three children. There is some speculation that my eldest brother may also have the disease, but he has never been checked. Partly, because his stomach problems are not troublesome enough to get it checked out.

Although, do not be concerned, just because you have a severe case of one of the diseases, does not mean your family member will to. For instance, my mom has an extremely mild case that has gone undetected for several years. In fact, she assumed it was irritable bowel for many years. My father, on the other hand, needs constant medication, but he has been able to keep his ulcerative colitis under control. I, on the other hand, had an extremely severe case that resulted in several hospitalizations and surgeries.

What Age Do People Tend To Get Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn's can appear at any age. The likelihood at one age is not significantly different than at other ages. Ulcerative colitis on the other hand, has a high tendency to show up at two different times in ones life. Despite it being genetic, the first symptoms may not show till late teens and twenties. Few people in there thirties discover they have it. Another age range that is common to discover one has this disease is fifty to sixty-five. The reason for this is unknown, although there is a theory that shifts in hormones may cause these ages to have a higher propensity for flares. If you are concerned you or someone you love might have this disease, at the bottom of my article entitled "what is ulcerative colitis" is a list of symptoms.

Is There A Race That Is More Likely To Get Ulcerative Colitis

There is some correlation to whether or not one will get this due to what race they are. For instance, Asian or African descents are less likely to find they have either of these diseases than lighter complexions. Caucasians tend to have UC more than any other race. While those who have Jewish ancestry, have a higher likelihood than non-Jews, to have an IBD. Again, it’s unknown why this is.

So rest assured, chances of your child having this disease is very unlikely. For those wondering if these diseases have a cure, I really can't give a flat answer. Yes you can, but I wouldn't advise it in many cases, unless it is a severe case. Previously I wrote an entire hub about my personal experience. If you are trying to decide, you can hear what I had to say in the hub entitled, "How I Cured My ulcerative colitis... kind of."

Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis: It's Not In Your Head

Crohn's and Colitis: A Real Disease

Ulcerative Colitis: An Inherited Disease

Curing My Ulcerative Colitis: Kind of

Important Dietary Facts For Those Suffering From IBDs: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's

Living with an ostomy can be embarrassing at times, frustrating, and just a plain nuisance. I had one for only six months of my life, and it was one of the hardest parts of all my surgeries and illnesses. But I made it through, through the help and advice of others. Some of these are for all of us who have undergone the surgeries even if we have had a reconnection surgery. Here are some hubs written by a fellow ostomates:

Skin Care for the Ostomate

Another Skin Care For Ostomies

Hydration and the Ostomate

What to do in case of a Bowel Obstruction

Caring for Your Child's Ostomy Needs.

Having Ostomy and Having Children