As in adults, headache and migraine in children is a condition that significantly affects the comfort and life of the person.
In headache and migraine in children, migraine is a common disorder, although it is not well known.
Inheadache and migraine in children, headache is frequently seen, but since these headaches are usually attributed to non-migraine causes, migraine is diagnosed much less frequently than in adults. In headache and migraine in children, the low recognition of migraine causes the child to remain untreated for a long time and to develop psychological disorders due to pain. The most common conditions that migraine is confused with in children are upper respiratory tract diseases such as sinusitis and gastrointestinal diseases. Migraine in children studies suggest that the frequency of migraine in childhood is around 10%. Approximately 75% of all headaches in childhood are due to migraine. In other words, we can say that migraine is the most common cause of headache in children.
Headache and migraine in children is a condition that needs to be treated. Headache in children can sometimes be psychological, so it is useful to see a specialist physician first.
What are the Symptoms of Migraine in Children?
Migraine symptoms in children;
- In headache and migraine disorders in children, migraine in children can manifest itself in many different ways.
- Migraine pain is typically unilateral and throbbing.
- The pain may be accompanied by redness, tearing, edema and swelling in the eyes. However, in children, unlike adults, we can also see pain that surrounds the head or gathers at a single point.
- The pain is usually accompanied by nausea or vomiting. The child does not want to move during pain. Wanting to lie still in a quiet dark place is a common behavior.
- In addition to headache, abdominal pain can also be seen in migraine attacks. This may cause the diagnosis of migraine to be delayed and gastrointestinal diseases to come to mind in the foreground, and even diarrhea and frequent urination may be seen in some children.
How Many Types of Migraine Are There in Children?
There are 2 main types of migraine in children. These are called migraine with and without aura.
1. Migraine with aura
- Pain is usually preceded by sensory complaints called aura.
- These complaints include numbness, tingling,
- blurred vision
- flashing lights,
- the vision of flickering objects and blackouts may also be observed.
- Very rarely, speech disturbance can also be observed as a form of aura.
- Although the pain usually starts after the aura, some children may experience pain and aura at the same time.
2. Migraine without aura is more common.
- Since migraine with aura is most commonly confused with epilepsy in children, an electroencephalography test may be needed to exclude the possibility of epilepsy.
In which age range is migraine most common in children?
Migraine in children is seen in every age range from infancy to old age. While migraine in children is equal in boys and girls before puberty, it is more common in girls after puberty. We see migraine attacks even in very young children as young as 4-5 years old. Therefore, it is important to know that headaches in young children do not always indicate a bad disease. In addition, when migraine is suspected, it is important to go to a neurologist and start the appropriate treatment in order to prevent the child from suffering from pain.
How is it treated?
Headache and migraine in children, migraine in children must be diagnosed before treatment. For this, imaging (MRI etc.) is recommended in case of suspicion, especially to exclude other disorders that cause headache. Headache and migraine in children, migraine treatment in children is slightly different from adults. While medication is usually the first choice in adults, childhood migraine responds well to lifestyle changes such as nutrition and exercise. For this, regular nutrition, avoiding ready-to-eat foods, consuming plenty of vegetables and fruits, outdoor play and exercise are recommended. Avoiding tablets and cell phones is also helpful. If these treatments do not produce results, preventive medication can be used. Painkillers and nausea medications can be used to stop a migraine attack that has already started.