Is crohns genetic and should I be worried

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It can be genetic but it can be random as well. Even in people that have genes commonly associated with Crohn's disease it is not 100% that you will actually feel symptoms of the disease because Crohn's is more and more being understood as a condition that combines genetic, environmental and "other unknown" factors.

There are even studies in identical twins where one twin will have it and the other twin will not (identical twins share the same genes).

Have you had Crohn's related genetic testing done? A couple of the genes most associated with Crohn's include [wiki=http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Prometheus-NOD2-CARD15-Test]NOD2 / CARD15[/wiki] and [wiki=http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/ATG16L1-Autophagy-Related-16-Like-1]ATG16L1[/wiki]. Certain mutations in these genes will make it more difficult for you to fight off infection effectively. It also depends if you have one gene affected or both.

There are a few companies that offer IBD Panels. We have a wiki page on the Prometheus Panel for IBD which includes testing for some genes HERE.

Do you have family members with Crohn's disease?
 
Another thing to keep in mind is just because you have a severe case doesn't mean they will as well (assuming they are ever diagnosed).

Check out the pamphlet DustyKat posted not long ago (your discussion begins on page 54 but its all good info): http://www.drfalkpharma.de/uploads/tx_tocfpshoperw/S82e_12-1-09.pdf Says the risk is from 1-7% if one of the parents suffers from IBD already. I know for me I still plan on having children in the near future. :)
 
Like said above, sometimes its genetic and sometimes its not. My dad has Crohn's and I recently found out that my biological mom's grandmother had it, so I was doomed from the start. My brother found out that he carries the gene, but its not active and may never be. You know what the symptoms are, so you know what to look for in your kids.
 
Hey Bottomless mummy...:hug:

As has been said so well already, there is a chance you will pass this on but the figure that is tossed around the most is as Crabby said, perhaps 7-10% if one parent has Crohn's.

Neither my partner or I have Crohn's but both of my children do. When I only had one child diagnosed I thought genetics played an equal along with environment and a trigger. Then when my son was also diagnosed my thinking changed and in our case I think genetics plays a much bigger part, but again that is just my experience.

As a Mum with Crohn's you will be much more enlightened as to what to look out for. I wish I had had some level of insight when my daughter became ill. I had no idea, I was totally clueless and I would be lying if I didn't say that it stills breaks my heart to think of the pain and suffering she experienced.

I can lay the timeline to diagnosis out very clearly...

My daughter...me clueless...18 months from first symptoms to diagnosis.

My son...5 years of experience...2 weeks from first symptoms to diagnosis.

...you are streets ahead of me! Just draw on your own experiences and instinct hun. They will not betray you.

Dusty. xxx
 
So, my main frustration is that we still don't understand what causes IBD. I think the latest understanding is that it is a combination of genetics (susceptibility) and environment (diet/carcinogens) and a trigger (bacterial infection). So, your child would be susceptible, but there's no smoking gun here. We had no family history when our son was diagnosed, only to later learn one of my husband's adult cousins was dx'ed just 2 years prior.

As for what to look for, I would say mainly, keep up with the yearly physicals, with a sharp eye on maintaining the current growth chart curve for both height and weight. Look for low energy and paleness and followup with a simple inflammation blood check with any prolonged (month+) stomach pain, diarrhea, bleeding, anemia. Emphasize good diet and exercise habits, and try to minimize stress. And as Dusty said, trust your instincts. My son's pediatrician thought my son would be much more ill and mistakenly, wasn't concerned. It can be very hidden, but in hindsight, growth failure and low energy levels were a huge red flag we were missing. Best of luck!
 
Thankyou all for your input I'll be sure to keep a close hawk eye on them. It's mainly my youngest who I worry about she has some tell tale signs which Im worried about
 
For me I had flu like symptoms (body aches, off and on fevers, diarrhea etc) for many months. If my parents had taken me to the doctor before I started bleeding maybe things wouldn't have gotten so bad or maybe not. Who knows? If you feel like something is up then there's no harm in taking them to their pediatrician and continue with yearly checkups (I never saw a doctor on a regular basis until my diagnosis, other than perhaps when I was a baby). After what you've been through, you know a good doctor when you meet them so at least you can make sure they are being treated by the best doctor.
 
My husband has crohns and also my 9 year ols son but both showed very different symtoms. my husband had drastic weight loss and diarhoea, under control now thank goodness. We wouldnt have known my son had crohns as he shows no symtoms, at the beginning he had anal fistula n bloating but no pain. Because of my husbands history he was sent for colonoscopy, endoscopy and camera capsule n unfortunately he has crohns too. We also have a 7 year old son and i find myself looking at him for any symtoms too. Our gi told us its not hereditary but is genetic.. best of luck. x
 
I have Crohn's, my uncle has it and my 12 year old daughter has it. All of us have small bowel Crohn's so it's definately running through my family. I knew my daughter had it as she had all the symptoms and looked like i did when i was diagnosed. I tried to convince the GP that she had it but he said it was rare in young children (she had just turned 11 when the symptoms started). He sent her blood results to the hospital, she had too many white blood cells and too many platelets, so when we went to see the paediatrician i mentioned crohns and they tested her stool and blood for signs of inflammation, then they sent her to a childrens hospital for a colonoscopy and she was diagnosed with Crohn's.
 

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