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Children and Migraine

Written by Kerrie Smyres on 17th Dec 2014

Children’s migraine attacks can look so different from adults’ attacks that even parents who have migraine sometimes can’t tell that their child’s symptoms are due to migraine. Here’s some must-have information on children and migraine:

  • Often, children have migraine with no head pain, but with stomach pain, nausea and possibly vomiting. (These are called abdominal migraines or headacheless migraines.)
  • When a child does have head pain with a migraine, it often felt through the entire head, not just on one side.
  • Fewer than half of kids who have head pain with a migraine attack say it is throbbing.
  • Children’s migraine attacks often only last two or three hours.
  • As a child ages, the frequency, severity and duration of their migraine attacks tend to increase.
  • Children’s migraine attacks are usually more frequent during the school year and come on Monday or Tuesday.
  • A child’s migraine symptoms can come on abruptly and stop suddenly.
  • Colic and carsickness are common among kids with migraine.
  • Getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan early can help keep a child’s migraines from becoming chronic.
  • For acute treatment, Axert (almotriptan) and Maxalt (rizatriptan) are FDA-approved for use in children and adolescents. Over-the-counter painkillers like Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be helpful.
  • To prevent migraine in children, medications such as amitriptyline, cyproheptadine and propranolol of often used.

References:

  • Kacperski, J., & Hershey, A. D. (2014). Preventive Drugs in Childhood and Adolescent Migraine. Current pain and headache reports, 18(6), 1-8.
  • Singhi, S., Jacobs, H., & Gladstein, J. (2014). Pediatric Headache: Where Have We Been and Where Do We Need to Be. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 54(5), 817-829.
  • Winner P. Migraine and Headache Management in Adolescents and Young Adults. Talk presented at: Annual  American Headache and Migraine Patient Conference; November 24, 2013; Scottsdale, Arizona.

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