Migraine in children
Diagnosis
Headache is a cause for concern, and should be brought to the attention of a medical practitioner in order to eliminate other more serious conditions. It is important to remember that the majority of recurrent headaches in childhood are either tension type headaches or migraine. A diagnosis of migraine in a child is made if headaches are recurrent and if two of the following symptoms are present:
- pain, usually on one side of the head, but sometimes on both sides
- vomiting or nausea
- vision disturbances or 'strange sensations'
- history of migraine in close family members (parents or siblings)
Migraine Equivalents in Children
Children can also present with a group of symptoms do not include a headache at all. Instead, symptoms such as stomachache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting may be the major part of a child's attack, making migraine harder to recognise in children. This is known as Abdominal Migraine and typically, it evolves in more typical migraine after puberty. The abdominal pain can be dull, sore or intense and is usually located around the middle of the abdomen around the navel. Sometimes, vertigo and head-tilt can be part of a childhood migraine attack. Investigation is frequently required to rule out other causes of migraine-like symptoms in children.
Why take headache in children seriously?
- The child's school performance may decline
- Headaches can be debilitating, affecting the child's ability to participate in activities and social events
- Relationships with friends and other family members can be affected
- Migraine may be indicative of other trouble in the child's life such as lack of sleep, poor diet, stress, depression, or other illness
Learning to control the condition from an early age can minimise the cost and disability involved.
Differences between migraine in children and adults
There are no hard-fast rules, but the following differences would not be atypical:
- Attacks usually shorter in children (usually less than 24 hours)
- Headache not as severe, or in some children, not present at all.
- Headache more likely to be on both sides of head in children.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms are usually more prominent in children
- Equally prominent in boys before puberty. Thereafter, 3 times more common in girls.
Triggers
Trigger factors commonly read more
