Childhood migraine symptoms can be confusing – especially for those living in the Louisville and Ohio Valley area, where seasonal allergies can cause similar symptoms. Migraine symptoms often can be dismissed as sinus headache, leading to mistreatment and continual migraine attacks. Early treatment – especially during childhood – often provides greater relief.

Childhood Migraine Symptoms

Kids don’t know what a migraine is and may not have the words yet to describe headache pain. Here are some common migraine symptoms in children:

• Head pain. This is the most common migraine symptom. The child may say they have a throbbing pain or pounding headache, often on one side of the head.
• Abdominal pain. Abdominal migraine, where the pain is in the abdomen, may prompt a child to say they have a tummy ache.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound. The child may say bright lights hurt their eyes and may cover their ears during loud noises.
• Aura. Some children report abnormal sensations before a migraine attack. Visual sensations, such as flashing lights or spots, are the most common, but there are others.
• Dizziness. A child might feel “woozy” or like the room is spinning, which could be a vestibular migraine or other type of migraine.
• Paleness and fatigue. The child may appear unusually tired or say they feel worn out.
• Heightened senses. Descriptions of smells being too strong or sounds being too loud.
• Mood changes. Irritability or sudden mood swings before or during a migraine headache.
• Stiff neck or neck pain

Diagnosing Pediatric Migraine Headache Disorder

Your child’s pediatrician or neurologist will order tests to rule out any underlying medical issues that may be causing migraine. Next, they’ll ask about common triggers, including sleep and eating habits. They’ll also ask a series of questions to pinpoint the specific type of headache causing your child’s pain. This will be followed by a physical exam.

In most patients with migraine headache disorder, medical tests are unable to determine the specific cause. Sometimes, the symptoms or physical exam might provide an indication that an underlying condition is causing migraine. Further tests, including the following, may be needed:

• Lab tests: Your child’s doctor may run a variety of tests to rule out other conditions or diagnose the cause of migraine. These may include:
  • Blood test: This will check for anemia, thyroid disorders, and imbalances of vitamins and electrolytes, which can contribute to headaches.
  • Lumbar puncture: This test checks the spinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
• MRI: An MRI scan uses powerful magnets to create detailed pictures of the brain.

Preparing for Your Child’s Appointment

Before meeting with your child’s headache specialist, it’s helpful to keep a headache diary. This log should contain the following:

• Number of days your child has missed school or activities due to headaches
• Time of day that headaches occur
• How long headaches last and how severe, including whether they caused vomiting
• Migraine triggers: Were the headaches associated with any common triggers, such as caffeine, too little or too much sleep, or significant weather changes?

When Is a Migraine an Emergency?

Migraine pain can be a sign of something else. Sometimes, headaches can be a symptom of an underlying condition that needs treatment and should be brought to a health care provider’s attention right away.

Migraine rarely is associated with a serious or life-threatening disease, such as infection or stroke. However, reasons to seek immediate medical attention include:

• Thunderclap headache: A headache that is severe within a few minutes of onset
• Positional headache: A headache that changes significantly depending on whether the child is lying down or standing up
• Headache that starts after a trauma or whiplash (sometimes as minor as a sneeze or cough)
• Headache that wakes the child from sleep at night
• Headache associated with other symptoms, such as weight loss, fever or rash
• Headache with neurological symptoms that affect a part of the body, such as weakness or paralysis
• Changes in thinking or speech during a headache