What is migraine headaches in children?
Children can get all young migraines. Around nine out of ten young people with migraine was the first attack before they were ten years. About half of the children with migraine remains to suffer from when they are adults.
It may be long before parents (and doctors) discover what is wrong with their child. Often look at a child's distress is not migraine. An attack takes in children usually short (less than four hours). In addition, children feel often (but not always) on both sides of the head pain. The pain is not always beating, and does not need to be very intense. Very young children sometimes have no headaches. For children it is also often difficult to tell exactly what they feel. Some parents think that their child is seriously ill, or even that it only has the flu.
What are the signs and symptoms of migraine headaches in children?
A child has migraine headaches as the periods, alternating with periods without headaches. In addition, the child may have the following symptoms:
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
- sensitivity to light and sound;
- a pale face;
- drowsiness;
- phenomena which have to do with the operation of the nervous system. Examples include seeing flashes of light, difficulty in speaking, paralysis or tingling in an arm.
What causes migraines in children?
Certain circumstances may a child trigger an attack of migraine. For example:
- The environment: for example, a rapid drop in air pressure, storm, storm, a smoky room, loud noises, flickering lights or pungent odors.
- Physical causes: eg fatigue, hormone fluctuations, bad or too little food.
What is the treatment for migraine headaches in children?
Children with migraine need to adapt their way of life. This may mean that your child should go to bed earlier, more needs to move or to follow a diet. This differs for each child. Keep a headache diary to discover which your child gets migraine attacks. In this diary you write when your child has a seizure and what were the circumstances.
Some kids have a lot of physiotherapy, Cesar therapy or Mensendieck therapy. This helps especially if the child has a wrong attitude or excessive muscle tension.
You can also opt for cognitive behavioral therapy, possibly in conjunction with relaxation training. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps especially children who are perfectionists or very sensitive. The predisposition to migraine remains, but often reduce or eliminate seizures for years.
Only when the treatment of migraine without medication does not work, a doctor prescribes medication for a child. Children often get the same medications as adults with migraine, but a lower dose. Some drugs are not suitable for children because the side effects are not well known. Would you give your child medication, always consult with your physician. Give your child not your own migraine medications.
What can you do to prevent a migraine attack with your child?
If your child follows certain rules of life, the chances of a migraine attack is minimized. Try to find out what advice to help your child best. Your GP or neurologist can help.
- Make sure your child eats and sleeps at set times.
- Let your child's school work and relaxation alternate.
- Keep a headache diary to find the causes of the attacks.
- Tell teachers that your child has migraines. Then they can react better to a migraine attack.