When you look at your preschool child, do you see a “mini” you? Or a little version of your spouse? Apparently, your preschool child does not only inherit genes responsible for your child’s appearance but also genes that predispose your child to certain disorders. Find out four of the commonly inherited diseases perceptible in children of preschool age.
Eyesight problems
When your preschool child is struggling at school that doesn’t mean he is a slow-learner. He may be having eyesight problems that hinder him from performing activities based on the preschool curriculum. For instance, nearsightedness requires a child to stay at the front where he could see pictures and words clearly. Another is colorblindness, which makes your preschool child unable to discern some colors. Nearsightedness and colorblindness are heritable eye disorders. If your preschool child complains frequently of headaches and teary eyes, bring him to an eye doctor. A corrective eyeglass may do the trick.
Skin disorders
Many skin disorders are heritable, some of which are ichthyosis, eczema, and cutaneous porphyria. Ichthyosis is a skin condition characterized by dry, thickened, flaky, itchy skin whereas eczema is by dry skin and rashes. The way to manage ichthyosis and eczema is to prevent exposing your preschool child to triggers and by applying moisturizers to hydrate skin.
Cutaneous porphyria is the extreme sensitivity of skin to light. A brief exposure to sunlight can result in sunburn and blisters. Thus, apply plenty of sunblock to your child’s skin before allowing him to go outside, especially during educational trips required in his preschool curriculum.
Allergies
If you’re hypersensitive or allergic to certain foods or chemicals, there is a chance that your child will also develop hypersensitivity, although you and your child may have different triggers. Since allergies or hypersensitivities manifest usually in child of preschool age, be attentive for possible triggers that bring flare-ups, cold or cough symptoms to your child.
Obesity
Obesity in preschool children can be genetic. If parents are obese, their children are likely to become obese as well. Of course, diet is also a major factor. However, a child whose parents are obese has a higher predisposition to becoming obese as well. Thus, apart from diet restrictions, parents should encourage their preschool child to do routine physical activities fit for his age. Otherwise, the child may also be susceptible to developing related disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary heart disease.
These are just some of the many heritable diseases recognized in preschool children. Since not all genes may be expressed favorably, be attentive to the needs of your preschool child.
