Know all about migraine in children – its causes and symptoms!

Headaches are common and many people have them at different times. Some have them frequently and some have them occasionally. But, what most people misunderstand is that only adults can have them. However, the fact is that even children can suffer from headaches and sometimes, they are as serious and severe as migraine. Migraine in children is not uncommon. Research studies have proven that many migraine sufferers have had their first attack before the age of 7.

Why do children get migraine attacks?

Parents often rule out the possibility of their children suffering from migraine, thinking that it can affect only adults. However, just like sinus, cold, infection or fever type headaches, migraine too is a possible cause of a headache in them. But, what exactly causes this or why children get these attacks is not clear to the scientists and doctors.

• Family history:

One factor that has been largely identified by them is family history. Most of the children, who have migraines, have parents or other people in their family, who have had migraine either in their childhood or are still patients of this serious pain.

• Brain chemical disorder:

Chemical disorder on the surface of the brain is also a factor that is much attributed to be the cause behind migraine in children. Scientists believed for long that the dilation and constriction of blood vessels of the brain have a direct impact on this condition. But, research studies have proven that sufferers of migraine are born with certain brain abnormalities that they inherit from their family.

When does a child get migraine attacks?

Migraine in children is a condition that cannot be predetermined when it will occur. But, when it does, it can stay for about 30 minutes to 48 hours. However, there are a few conditions in which a child may be more likely to get these attacks. These external factors are called triggers. The common triggers are –

• Stress, anxiety and tension
• Weather changes like strong winds, barometric pressure
• Exposure to the sun
• Physical activity
• Change in routine
• Food and beverages like aged cheese, alcohol, processed meats and foods, MSG or caffeinated products

However, it is not necessary that a person has to experience all or any of these as triggers for migraine in children. In case of any such hint, it is best that you consider a specialist who deals with this problem. To ensure that you find specialists nearby, you can check out http://www.mewithoutmigraine.com/locate-a-doctor/

How to understand if it is migraine?

Migraines can be seriously debilitating for a child. Even adults cannot cope with the excruciating pain at times. Hence, to make sure that the best treatment is provided to them, one needs to identify the type of a headache as migraine. The symptoms of migraine in children are –

• Extreme pain
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to sound and light
• Abdominal pain
• Stomach upset or even diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue

Migraine in children can occur as frequently as many times in a month or as infrequent as once or twice a year. Hence, when it does, it is a must that you notice the triggers that have led to the condition. This will help the doctor to identify the causes and also offer the best treatment.

Is your child suffering from recurring headaches? Check out migraine in children tips to help them!

For tolerating headache of a gruesome effect, every person needs to have a huge capacity and mental strength. Having a general headache is quite a daily affair, and in most cases, people are not quite bothered regarding its medication. However, at times, when this concerned headache is diagnosed as migraine, it becomes quite difficult for people to actually find respite from it. The worst part of this type of headache is that it does not leave even the children from its grip. Even they have to suffer from this excruciating pain.

It has become a common affair in present times to diagnose migraine in children, and it attacks around 5%-10% of children at tender ages as per studies. Hence, it is important that people should be concerned with this type of headache, and thereby make sure that children are taken proper care of, in case they have to face this problem.

Difference of migraine attacks in children and adults:

As per studies made by various medical organisations, generally migraines attack girls at an age around 11, while for boys, it is below 7. In this regard as well, there are some differences in the manner in which they are attacked.

1. In case of children, range of attacks is shorter than general attacks. At times, condition may improve between two sessions of attack.
2. Children are faced with abdominal pain in case of migraine attacks. This is a special feature of migraine in children.
3. It is in nature of migraine pain to be unilateral. In case of children though, this pain can be all throughout the head.
4. In case of adults, in most cases they get a warning prior to attacks. For children though, these attacks are short in time, such as it may be of 15-30 minutes. However, they come unannounced, are short timed, and extremely severe.
5. Post this attack, children feel extremely nauseous, and may feel giddy at times. Special care needs to be taken of them in this post attack phase.
6. A very unique type of migraine in children happens to be car sickness. Migraine pain can occur suddenly while moving in cars, and lead to sudden vomiting and dizziness.

Thus, one should be extremely careful in all regards, when it comes to children, as their attacks are extremely excruciating in nature.

Special symptoms found in children:

In case of children, symptoms differ, and parents should be more careful towards treating this type of migraine. 

1. The level of urination in children increases to a great level. At times, this excessive sweating and water loss could cause diarrhoea.
2. Children tend to become pale over time. They seem to lose energy, and feel dizzy most of times.
3. Nasal passage of children gets blocked, leading to various nasal infections.

Caring tips for migraine in children:

1. Children should be given a balanced and nutritious diet consisting of nutrition rich food.
2. Sleeping patterns of children should be monitored. In this way, they can follow a regular pattern that would reduce attacks of this pain.
3. In case of excessive pain, application of hot or cold compress in areas of pain will help soothe it.
4. Daily exercising is very important for maintaining proper health.

Thus, for treating migraine in children, it is best to follow guidelines given by doctors, who are skilled in handling paediatric migraine.