About 1 in 10 people aged 18 or younger suffer from migraines, a potentially debilitating type of headache that can interfere with their ability to function. Some migraines may be misdiagnosed when children have difficulty accurately describing their symptoms.
As a parent, you need to know how to recognize migraines, as well as what to do to help your child when they suffer an episode. Partner with Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD, in Fountain Valley, California, to develop an action plan to ease your child through migraine attacks.
This month, we’re sharing what you as a parent need to know about pediatric migraines.
Migraines are recurring headaches that cause throbbing and pulsating head pain that can be intense. Other symptoms can include dizziness, stomach pain, and sensitivity to light or noise.
Little is known about the underlying causes of migraines, though researchers believe that symptoms result when abnormal nerve signals in the brain trigger inflammation and pain.
While anyone can have migraines, genetics seems to play a role with chronic headaches. Children and teens with a parent who suffers from migraines have a greater risk of developing these themselves.
Migraine symptoms in children and teens sometimes vary from those experienced by adults. For example, pain may affect the whole head, rather than one side, which is typical for adults.
Other signs of pediatric migraine include:
Like adults, children and teens may experience symptoms in stages before and/or after the headache. These stages include:
Patients may or may not go through all four migraine stages with every attack.
Dr. Tandon goes by symptoms to distinguish migraines from other headaches. This sometimes becomes difficult if a child can’t clearly express what they experience. As a parent, your observations play an important role.
Tracking your child’s symptoms, including their progress through the migraine stages, along with how they describe their pain — when it starts, and how long it lasts — can help Dr. Tandon distinguish the patterns that identify migraines.
Keeping a written record may help to determine the activities that trigger the headaches, such as stress at school, poor sleep patterns and changes in appetite.
Combined with a medical history, a physical, and neurological exams, your observations can be an important part of the diagnosis.
Treatment depends on the frequency and severity of the symptoms your child experiences. We may recommend lifestyle adaptations to remove potential contributing conditions, including:
Over-the-counter pain medication when a headache starts can decrease the severity and duration of their pain. Dr. Tandon may also prescribe migraine medications for those whose migraines occur more frequently.
Yes, children and teens get migraines. Contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD, to get your child the care they need. Call or click to request an appointment today.
