Migraine Headache
Diagnosis Of Migraine In Kids
While migraines are most common in adults, particularly
women, children are also prone to developing them. Migraines are not
caused by stress or tension, like tension headaches, but rather result
from an intricate biochemical process involving the constriction and
expanding of blood vessels in the brain. It is estimated that as much as
5% of children are affected by migraine. Boys and girls equally are
affected by migraines when they are very young, but during puberty the
shift begins toward females suffering more than males. This shift in
teenage girls is due to changes in hormones.
Migraines may be diagnosed in children as young as 4 years of age,
though the process of diagnosis of migraines in children is a process of
trial and error. Migraines are diagnosed as the cause of headaches only
after ruling out more serious causes. In addition, a comprehensive
family medical history should be provided, and both a general physical
and neurological examination can be expected before diagnosis can be
determined as migraines.
Most children who suffer with migraines will have inherited the sickness. Should
migraines run in your family, you would be wise to keep an eye on whether your child is
experiences any kind of motion sickness. Motion sickness if often seen as an early
indicator of the possibility of developing migraines later on. It’s very
possible, in fact it’s quite probable, that there will be a family
history of migraines. In addition, kids who develop migraines
experienced colic, nightmares or disturbances in sleeping patterns. The
throbbing pain experienced by a children’s migraine is often intense
enough to interfere with school and other daily activities. You should
also be aware that physical activity can exacerbate the situation so
make sure your child’s school PE teacher is aware of your child’s
condition.
As with adult migraines, auras may or may not accompany a child’s headache. Auras
are visual experiences such a flashing points of lights, zigzagging lights, etc. Unlike
migraines in adults, however, the duration of migraines usually don’t longer than
three or four hours. Some extreme migraines may be accompanied by temporary neurological
problems such as an inability to speak, a loss of sensation or even, in rare cases, a loss of
consciousness.
Specific to children and migraines is the so-called "Alice in Wonderland"
Syndrome. This syndrome involves hallucinations that distort images and
shapes, or sometimes causes objects to appear larger or smaller. In
fact, one theory has it that Lewis Carroll himself, the author of Alice
in Wonderland, suffered from migraines and that the bizarre occurrences
in his children’s classic is a rendering of his experiences.
Treatment for children’s migraines often includes the use of medications. Most
children benefit from acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands), or
anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. If these over the
counter medications don't alleviate your child's pain within several
hours, you may need to look into the possibility of prescription
medication. Some drugs are used to prevent or lessen the frequency of
migraines, while others are used for immediate pain relief. Children can
be involved in treatment by keeping a headache diary which may help them
to identify factors that "trigger" a headache. They can plan for rest
(headaches may be relieved by sleep) and learn to manage stress. Studies
have shown that the frequency of migraines may be lessened by the use of
biofeedback, relaxation techniques and acupuncture.
In addition, you may want to look into the many non-drug therapies that are available
such as stress biofeedback, meditation and stress management. These
approaches needn’t take the place of medication, they can work in
conjunction with medical treatment. Also, don’t underestimate the
importance of good nutrition, sticking to a solid sleep routine and
making sure the child gets enough exercise.
If you suspect that your child may be experiencing migraines, consider making an appointment
with your pediatrician after first keeping a migraine journal in which you recorded the
following information:
How many headaches your child had each week.
Where on the head was the pain located.
How painful was the headache?
How long the headache lasted.
Did any foods, drinks or activities seem to set them off?
Does your child's headaches affect his/her normal activity?