Scoliosis is inherited. But, in fact, it's more possible that someone does or does something and it went unreported since it was a minor offense. Of course, there are times when a child is the first in the family to be diagnosed with the illness. However, this occurs because children with scoliosis develop other problems with their bones or organs that cause doctors to look for the curve elsewhere. The chances of your child having scoliosis rise if another member of the family has been diagnosed with the condition. This is because people with scoliosis are more likely to have children who also become sick. In some cases, multiple members of the same family will be diagnosed with the disease. Children with scoliosis should not be embarrassed by the diagnosis. Actually, most kids feel relieved when they are told why they were referred to a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. And after being examined by our team, most enjoy learning that the problem can be corrected using surgery and physical therapy. If you think your child may have the disease, refer them to a pediatric orthopaedist immediately. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the treatment options are for your child. Also, talk to your doctor about the best way to get an alert if more family members are diagnosed with the condition.