Bipolar disorder can be acquired by children and adolescents when their parents or from close relatives that may also be suffering from this disease. The children will most likely adopt it but the symptoms will only show when they reach their adolescent stage.

Adults who have the bipolar disorder have more defined symptoms but compared to children and adolescents that have evident manifestations because of the mood swings that they experience. This includes mania and depression that can happen many times in a day.

Children that are experiencing mania will expect irritability and can have tantrums that are destructive which can be caused by being elated or joyful. Adolescents that have bipolar disorder experience mixed episodes. The older ones have already developed the symptoms and episodes that can also be seen in adults.

It is harder to diagnose bipolar disorder in children and adolescents as compared to adults. Apart from these mood swings that are obvious because of the unstable swinging of emotions that is caused by growing up, being hyper and depressed are also considered normal and this is within the range of children and adolescent behavior.

There are some symptoms that are also associated with the other disorders like the irritability and aggressiveness of a child can also be associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and other mental disorders. Drug abuse is also a factor which may cause such symptoms and are not totally connected with the illness.

According to the researches, this disorder may have the possibility to begin during childhood or teenage years but the exact diagnosis of the diseases could be proven upon adulthood. This mental illness will affect anyone and most especially if that person is exposed to contributing risk factors.

Studies say that if both parents have manifested the illness, a greater chance that their children will also have the disorder. Alcohol and drug abuse can also be considered as a contributing factor in the family history. Symptoms in children and adolescents are almost the same with adults but some may differ and may be lighter.

Teenagers that have bipolar disorder may have the greatest possibility to be treated compared to the adults already manifesting this illness. Some of the major treatment modalities are medications that can used to stabilizing the person and their mood swings, educating the family and their friends, and preventing depression. In order to treat the illness effectively, medical authorities should diagnose the disorder correctly.