Migraines in children are not so rare: around ten percent of all school children and adolescents are affected, and the trend is rising. However, children of preschool age rarely suffer from it. What symptoms migraines show in children and how they can be treated.
- Migraines in children often show slightly different symptoms than in adults.
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Migraines in children are a distressing disease in which the migraine attacks often present themselves differently than in adults. The first migraine attack often occurs in the sixth year of life. The good news: In about every second child, migraines go away after puberty. Girls who experience the first migraine attack at the beginning of puberty often experience migraines with aura symptoms. These accompanying neurological symptoms, such as visual or speech disorders, immediately precede the migraine attack.
At a glance:
Migraines in children show other symptoms
In children, migraines can generally manifest themselves with similar migraine symptoms as in adults. However, the migraine attacks in children usually do not last as long as in adults, but are often over after two hours. However, migraines in children can last up to 48 hours. Children feel the pain all over their forehead – they rarely have unilateral migraine headaches.
In addition, headaches are sometimes not central in children – abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, for example, can occur without additional headaches and still be symptoms of a migraine. About 40 percent of children are additionally plagued by abdominal pain during the migraine attack.
Some of the possible symptoms of childhood migraines include:
Violent headache, one or both sides. Possibly typical side effects of migraines such as nausea and sensitivity to light. The headache often improves after sleep.
Visual disturbances before the actual headache – migraines with aura are also possible in children.
Sudden need to rest, for example when playing. The child willingly lay down and fall asleep.
Pallor or flushed face
Dizzy spells
Nausea and vomiting
stomach pain
Loss of appetite
thirst
eye bags
Racing heart
fatigue
restlessness
It is also typical that exercise intensifies the symptoms. Speech and sensation disorders in the arms and legs are possible. The children are usually in good health between attacks – but during the migraine attack they look sick and want to lie down.
Special form of abdominal migraines
Experts speak of an abdominal migraine – i.e. a migraine of the abdominal cavity – when children without an identifiable cause complain of several hours of abdominal pain at least twice a year, which is accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and very paleness. Clear dark circles are also possible. The dull pain occurs around the belly button and is so severe that the children have to lie down. The children are completely healthy between attacks.
So if abdominal pain occurs again and again for no apparent cause, parents should think about this special form of migraine and, if in doubt, consult a doctor.
Headache in children – when to see a doctor?
In particular, if headaches occur in children several times a week, daily or for more than a day, it is advisable to see a doctor. Because children who already suffer from pain in their free time and school need targeted therapy.
Causes and triggers of migraines in children
If children are affected by migraines, according to scientists, genetic factors play an important role: The children suffer from a congenital stimulus processing disorder. Impressions from the environment cannot be sufficiently filtered with them. They absorb more stimuli than they can tolerate and process. The actual migraine attack acts as an emergency brake on the sensitive nervous system that protects the brain from further overload. After a migraine attack, the brain functions normally again, and the nervous system is also well recovered for a while. Because of their sensitive nervous system, many children and adolescents with migraines appear a little more anxious and sensitive than their peers.
If a child has frequent migraines, it can also be due to unrecognized emotional or physical problems. An irregular day-night rhythm, a lot of television before going to bed or too much caffeine in cola or tea can trigger migraine attacks in affected children.
Treatment of migraines in children
With milder migraine attacks, it helps if the children lie down in a darkened, quiet room. A cold towel on the forehead and rubbing in peppermint oil on the temples, crown and neck often relieve the pain. Of course, a lot of love and attention from parents is also important now.
Medicines for children with migraines – note the special features
Under no circumstances should children simply be given adult migraine medication. As a pain reliever for migraines, experts recommend ibuprofen (10 mg per kg of body weight). Paracetamol can also be administered (15 mg per kg body weight), but is often not as effective in relieving migraine pain in children. The drug acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) used in adults should not be given to children under the age of twelve. Metoclopramide, an anti-nausea drug, is also taboo for patients under the age of 14. It can cause central nervous system disorders in children under the age of 14.
Triptans for migraines in children
Triptans are very effective in treating migraines in adults. Certain triptans can also be given to children by neurologists. They are usually only used when the migraines occur in children more than three times a month. Triptans that have been studied in children are rizatriptan and sumatriptan. Almotriptan, eletriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan were tested in adolescents. The combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium has been shown to be effective in adolescents with migraines. However, triptans can also have mild side effects such as changes in taste, dizziness, tiredness, and nausea.
In no case should parents exceed the doses of pain relievers recommended by their doctor. You should read the package insert carefully and observe the warning notices.
Recognize triggers and prevent them in a targeted manner
In order to prevent migraines in children, it is important that parents recognize and reduce stress factors. Excessive demands at school, fear of class work, anger with friends or arguments between parents are common stress factors in childhood and adolescence. But the expectation of happy events such as children's birthdays, vacation trips or Christmas presents can also put children under pressure. Noise, lack of sleep, and overstimulation from television and computers can also lead to migraine attacks.
Preventing attacks is particularly important in children: it is advisable for parents to track down what triggers the migraine attacks – a migraine diary can help.
Possible triggers for migraines include, for example
- too less sleep
- irregular meals
- trouble
- disappointment
- certain foods such as nuts or cheese
- heat
- bad air
- Cigarette smoke (passive smoke!)
- noise
glare
Relaxation techniques can help migraine children
A regular daily routine with enough breaks, enough sleep, exercise in the fresh air and regular balanced meals is particularly helpful for children with migraines.
Since parents cannot completely keep stress away from the child, relaxation techniques are recommended. With autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation, for example, children learn to perceive their own physical reactions to stressful situations and to relax consciously in order to prevent migraine attacks. This not only helps ward off the next migraine headache: The methods are also suitable, for example, to reduce fear of classwork.
