Migraines in Children

You may be surprised to read that ten per cent of children get migraines and this percentage rises amongst teenagers. Migraines in children begin earlier in boys than girls although they are usually affected equally but after puberty, migraines are much more frequent in girls.

Very young children and migraines

At least 20% of those children who are going to have migraines suffer from their first attack before they are five but they don’t always tell you that they have a headache. Very young children experiencing a migraine attack usually look pale and ill and have abdominal pain, vomiting and a strong need to sleep. They may show their pain and discomfort by irritability, crying, rocking or seeking a dark room in which to sleep. If they vomit, this very often clears the condition and they can sleep it off. Migraines in young children often happen without headaches. They may have repeated bouts of stomach pain only or they may have photophobia (sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (sensitivity to sound) without either stomach or headache.

School age children and migraines

Children aged 5 to 10 can experience headache, nausea, abdominal cramping, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, osmophobia (sensitivity to smells) and a need to sleep. They usually fall asleep with an hour of the time the attack starts and of course this is the best thing to do.

Other symptoms of migraines in children are:

o Paleness with dark circles under the eyes
o Tearfulness
o Swollen nasal passages
o Thirst
o Swelling
o Excessive sweating
o Increased urination and
o Diarrhea.

As children grow older, headaches can intensify and continue for longer periods. The migraines can occur at more regular intervals. The children often describe the migraines as throbbing headaches. They often move to one side of the head in the same way that adults suffer from migraines. In some cases, there are no headaches but repeated bouts of stomach aches

Causes and triggers of migraines in children

An inherited tendency is believed to make some children more likely to have a migraine after some trigger but the exact cause or causes of migraine headaches are unknown. They may be due to a temporary deficiency of the brain chemical serotonin and many of the drugs used to treat migraines actually target this chemical. Many of those who suffer from migraines are able to pin point their migraine starting because of something they have eaten, drunk or done. And such triggers in children can be chocolate, cheese, nuts, shellfish, sugar and caffeine. It is possible that migraines have several migraine trigger factors and many internal causes. We do not know for sure.

Treatment of migraines in children

If you suspect that your young child is suffering from migraines, you should take him or her for a thorough examination by your doctor. Try to write down beforehand all the symptoms that you have noticed or of which you child has complained so that your doctor has a complete picture. He will need to know about your child’s medical history, any previous tests, any allergies and any previous or current medications. With your help he will be able to come to a conclusion as there is no specific diagnostic test for migraine headaches. He will advise on the best kind of treatment for your child.

When your child has recurring headaches, it may be a symptom of a relatively harmless condition or it may be a symptom of a more serious and even life-threatening condition. This is why it important to take your child to the doctor.

Approximately 65 to 80 percent of children with migraines miss out on school and other activities because of their symptoms. They can become very anxious because of this. The correct diagnosis and treatment of their migraine and its symptoms can greatly improve their quality of life.

Go to our Migraine and Headache Treatment page

Back to Migraines articles: