Eczema

will the kids get it? The odds are about fifty-fifty, the same as for allergies. That makes sense given that eczema is actually a type of allergic reaction. The condition can take parents by surprise, though, especially when neither parent actually has it. "The tendency or predisposition to allergic conditions is what's inherited, not the specific allergies," says Howard Saal, M.D., director of clinical genetics at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. However, eczema does have a couple of specific triggers: Cold, dry environments can bring it on, as can highly allergenic foods such as dairy and eggs, says Dr. Shu. Stress can play a role as well: When young children's parents divorced or separated, the kids experienced a threefold increased risk of eczema during the next two years, according to research from the Technical University in Munich, Germany.

signs they got nabbed: Eczema is pretty hard to miss. The dry, itchy skin or red, rough patches usually form on the cheeks, insides of the elbows, and backs of the knees. And when it's severe (or when the child scratches and scratches), little pus-filled sacs can develop. Of the allergic conditions, this one is most likely to debut first, even during infancy.

what you can do: See your doctor to confirm your suspicions and to develop a maintenance routine to help prevent more breakouts. Usually, staying on top of moisturizing (opt for one that's fragrance- and dye-free) can go far in keeping the condition in check; to ease the itching and inflammation of a flare-up, your doc may prescribe a topical steroid cream. If despite your best efforts your child scratches so much that an infection develops, antibiotics are usually in order.

Migraines

will the kids get them? These debilitating headaches are often passed on: Your child has as much as a 50 percent chance of developing them if one parent gets them, and an even higher chance if both do.

signs they got nabbed: Symptoms often include some combination of throbbing pain (usually in the front or sides of the head), nausea or vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Migraines typically show up around age 8, but some kids get them much sooner; in young children especially, the head pain is often associated with motion sickness.

what you can do: Do your best to identify your child's particular triggers (it can help to keep a log of what he was doing and eating, as well as how he was generally feeling, around the time the pain began). Common ones in kids include fatigue, overexertion, changes in routine, certain foods (aged cheese and processed foods like hot dogs and lunch meats are biggies), and caffeine. Fortunately, kids' headaches are often relieved by going to sleep or taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the strategies provided by your pediatrician don't bring relief, she may suggest seeking out a pediatric neurologist, says Dr. Saal. After all, unrelenting pain can have a powerful ripple effect on nearly every aspect of your child's life. In fact, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that children with frequent or severe headaches that go untreated have higher levels of emotional, conduct, and peer problems than their headache-free classmates. No wonder: Being a kid is hard enough without having to deal with pain.

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