If you are an avid genealogist like myself you have no doubt spent time pouring over death certificates and noting the various causes of death within your family members. Inherited diseases is another reason that I chose to have my DNA tested. I think it is good to know what health risks one has and whether said risks can be passed on to his or her children and grandchildren. One thing that I have noticed over the many years of researching my mothers side of the family is that there is an high rate of death due to appendicitis in her line. My own daughter had to have her appendix removed when she was sixteen years old. So for the purpose of this post this evening I have gone back through my tree and pulled out the records of those family members who have died as a result of appendicitis and I am going to list them here to see if there is a pattern in them:
- Maternal, 1st Cousin, 1 x removed, Male, died from appendicitis at the age of 19
- Maternal 1st Cousin, Female, died during childbirth from ruptured appendix, age 19
- Maternal 1st Cousin, Female, died during childbirth from ruptured appnedix (sister of the cousin listed directly above her) age 18
- 3rd Maternal Great, Grandfather died from Appendicitis age 77
My mother had to have her appendix taken out after the birth of her first child. My daughters as I stated above came on at the age of 16. I think there are a few more cases in my family tree but I forget just who they were at the present time. Lets suffice it to say that I have a hunch that the susceptibility to get appendicitis may very well be inherited.
Some in the medical community do feel that the tendency to
inherit a blockage in the appendical lumen can account for some cases of appendicitis.
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