Only one in my family with celiac

[Natalie2013]

I’m the only one in my family with celiac disease how come I’ve got it when no one in my family has. My mum has overactive thyroids which she’s had since she was a child could that be the reason and if so why then hasn’t my older sister or my younger brother got it how come it’s only me when I’m the middle child 

[trents]

How do you know no one else in your family has Celiac Disease? Have the rest of them been tested? Going by symptoms alone can be misleading as many Celiaces have few symptoms, especially at first and especially when you don't know the range of things to look for.

[Natalie2013]

Yes they’ve been tested my sister has Ibs (she was tested for celiac but hasn’t got it) my mum’s been tested as she has an overactive thyroid so she Gets blood tests every year for her check up and one of the test is to check for celiac but she’s never had it my brother doesn’t have anything like that no symptoms or problems with his stomach the only thing he has is bipolar me and my sister both have asthma aswell I just don’t get why I’m the only one when asked if anyone in the family as far as they know had any problems with their stomach, bowels or weather anyone has had celiac or any allergy and they said no not as far as they know. (Other then my grandad having bowel cancer witch I don’t think is related plus he was my mum’s step dad) we don’t know my mum’s dad nor his side of the family so can’t say for sure in his side if they ever had it could be a possibility but I’ll never know for sure but there’s no one on my dad side that’s ever had it and my dad is healthy and has no health issues (other then his sight) x

[trents]

There are a couple of autoimmune or potential autoimmune diseases in your family: thyroid and asthma. Many autoimmune diseases have genetic overlap with Celiac Disease, that is, they are found in the same general area of the genetic map. Perhaps that is why people with Celiac Disease often develop other autoimmune diseases over time. There is a bout a 10% chance that if you have Celiac Disease then a first degree relative will have it as well. Celiac Disease can be latent. That is, you can have the gene potential to develop Celiac Disease but never develop it or not develop it until later in life. It takes both the gene potential and some kind of trigger for the disease to be actually expressed, such as a viral infection. People can develop celiac disease at any point in their life but it most commonly onsets (or at least is diagnosed then) in childhood or in the third decade of life. About 40% of people have gene potential for developing celiac disease but only a small fraction of those actually do. Some of your family members may yet develop celiac disease.

[Natalie2013]

Ok thank you this is a great help xx