Yes, it can be genetic. My ex husband's grandfather has it, his daughter (my ex SIL) and my ex have it, and my daughter has it. In his family (there were 4 kids and my ex and I have 2 kids) it seems to be 50% chance of getting it. But everyone has it to a varying degree.

My daughter's 13 (almost 14) and manages it with using clinical strength over the counter antiperspirant on her hands and feet. Other than having to remind her to use it, it's not much of an issue.

Does anyone else in your wife's family have it?

Thanks heaps for the reply, can you please advise what are the critical dangers to kids with HH ? i.e., does it affect them in playing or daily activities ? I have gone through various website for HH but I would like to receive feedback from someone in real who has gone through this situation. I, once again thank you very much for the reply

Furthermore, I have checked with my wife and she confirmed that no one in her family has/had it till date

Nope, doesn't affect her. I'll feel my daughter's hands sometimes and notice that they're damp, and remind her to use the antiperspirant. That's about it. I have heard of people who have it much worse and have to change their activities, but no one in my ex's family have ever had to do that (my ex probably had it the worst of any of them, and did have some issues with fungal infections for a while.) Because of the athlete's foot issue, I've always had multiple shoes for my daughter and sprayed with Lysol every few days.

When it came time for kids, it wasn't even a consideration, and I still wouldn't let it stop me. I know a few kids with birth defects, that are 100,000 times as serious.

That said, there are a few that get it really really bad.

I think HH can be hereditary but I've read it can skip generations. Some may have more severe HH than other family members. My boy is almost one and I worry he will develop HH from me but if he does, I know what options are out there for treatment and management and since I have it I can be there for him.

john, it can affect a person more socially at times than physically. It's embarrassing to have sweaty hands in public and it can cause anxiety but there are options out there. Unfortunately I not only had the excessive sweaty hands and feet but they would also swell and my skin would get tight and painful. And it's just plain uncomfortable to feel like you are constantly wet amd have to wipe your hands on your pants. Glycopyrrolate has saved me though. I've been taking it for a few years now and it reduces the sweat by half, even more, I had ETS surgery a while ago though so my hands do not sweat anymore but I swear everywhere else now and the meds really help. Physiologically it can have more of an impact on a person especially a child and teen going through puberty. High school was the hardest. People didn't get it but it's so much more well known now that people and doctors are being more educated on HH. Let me know if you have other questions. I have severe HH and had the surgery so I've been through it all

Hi John,

I have HH since my childhood. I have 5 year old now and he does not have this problem. I guess this is more of a case of probability but I don't think you should base your decision solely on the basis of this condition.
Growing up, I always thought I am some sort of mutant and will eventually have power to control water on this earth. But it is much more manageable now.

Hello John, as stated by many of the comments on this thread, it is possible to get hyperhidrosis genetically, but it is not guaranteed. Just because your wife has it doesn't mean your kids will have it too. But it does have a chance of happening. I have been dealing with excessive sweating for most of my life and what I can tell you is that it is manageable. There are options if you are pointed in the right direction. Feet and hands are probably the hardest to control, but if you are talking about armpit sweating, there is an antiperspirant that they could use and be pretty much normal for most of their lives. There is such a "doom and gloom" towards hyperhidrosis and most of the positive outcomes just have to do with a positive attitude and a good product. I personally use a product called Certain Dri that has changed the way I sweat in a positive way. I only have to apply it once every three days. Sometimes, I forget I even had a perspiration problem. My point is that isn't not the end of the world if your kids get this condition. Just recognize it, and see how you can help. When they are young you might want to try calamine powder to try to absorb the sweat. Good luck.