| Abdominal migraines are migraines that occur | | | | Physical exams will have to be conducted to |
| mostly in children between the ages of five and | | | | make the diagnosis conclusive, including a |
| nine. The majority of these child sufferers | | | | sonogram, blood screening and urine tests. |
| develop common or classic migraines when they | | | | Medications that are used for the more common |
| get older. As the name implies, the most common | | | | types of migraine are prescribed for patients |
| symptom of this migraine type is abdominal pain. | | | | when the attacks are not that frequent. These |
| Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, | | | | are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, |
| diarrhea, loss of appetite, flushed or pale skin and | | | | anti-nausea medicines and triptans. Beta blockers |
| sensitivity to light. Headaches may or may not | | | | and those that interfere with the serotonin levels |
| accompany abdominal migraine attacks. Although | | | | in the brain are also given. Age is a major |
| the actual cause of abdominal migraine is not | | | | consideration when prescribing these medicines |
| known, it is theorized that it comes from the part | | | | since most sufferers of abdominal migraine are |
| of the brain called area post-trema, which sends | | | | children. |
| out abnormal brain waves that trigger the attack. | | | | Those who experience frequent episodes have to |
| This form of migraine is not easy to diagnose and | | | | undergo preventive therapies similar to those that |
| there are no definitive medical tests that prove or | | | | are recommended for the other migraine types. |
| confirm if a person has it. To add to this problem, | | | | Since the nature of attacks varies from one child |
| children are unable to express themselves in a | | | | to another, treatments for abdominal migraines |
| medically sufficient way. The physician then has to | | | | vary as well. While only one drug might be |
| rely on certain observable conditions to assess | | | | sufficient for one sufferer, it might take a |
| whether or not patients are afflicted with | | | | combination of these drugs to develop an |
| abdominal migraines. These include attacks of | | | | effective treatment for another. These are issues |
| moderate to severe abdominal pain lasting up to | | | | that have to be discussed with the doctor |
| seventy-two hours and located in the midsection | | | | thoroughly and it might take a number of tries |
| of the abdomen. | | | | before something works. |
| During episodes, the child is nauseous or vomiting, | | | | Abdominal migraines rarely afflict adults but this |
| is pale and sometimes has dark circles around | | | | does not mean that when the child gets older, the |
| their eyes. Upon physical examination, there is no | | | | attacks will stop. The most likely scenario is that |
| indication of gastrointestinal or renal disease. Since | | | | symptoms will change to another type of |
| abdominal migraines are believed to be | | | | migraine, usually the more common ones. Hence, |
| genetically-based, the doctor can also check the | | | | a thorough understanding of the disease is very |
| medical histories of immediate family members. | | | | important. In this way, the patient will be able to |
| Most often than not, there is at least one | | | | manage the disease more effectively when he |
| member of the family who is also suffering from | | | | reaches adulthood. |
| migraine, though this could be of a different type. | | | | |