A child might have migraine headaches if he/she experiences frequent episodes with gaps without symptoms and some or all cases have the following:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Throbbing pain or discomfort in the head, often on one side
- Abdominal pain
- Relief after sleep
- Visual or sensory sensation such as flashing of light, blurring or numbness of the feet and hands
- Family history of migraine headaches
In case the child has the characteristic symptoms of a migraine headache, the doctor will recommend a suitable treatment plan.
Management
Most cases of migraine headaches among children are not severe and can be managed at home. Consult the doctor regarding suitable measures to avoid triggers and manage the headaches. The episodes can be instigated by hormonal changes, stress, certain foods and other factors.
Keeping a diary can help identify and avoid the migraine triggers. This should include the date, time, location, duration, severity and even environmental factors such as food eaten before a headache starts, stressful events and other potential triggers.
During an initial episode, the child must rest in a darkened, quiet room. Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen are usually effective for mild cases of migraine headaches. In most cases, children with the migraines have lesser, severe headaches once assessed by the doctor and reassured that there are no serious health issues.