| Picture this. Your 9-year old daughter staggers to | | | | room. For those who like to sound knowledgeable, |
| the breakfast table; hands on head, and moans | | | | this light sensitivity is known as photophobia. |
| plaintively, "I can't go to school today. I have a | | | | 9. PHONOPHOBIA: Moving to the eighth symptom, |
| headache." | | | | migraine in children may cause them to hold their |
| "Nonsense," you say. You give her an aspirin with | | | | ears, or complain that you're talking too loudly. |
| breakfast and say, "Off you go. You'll feel better | | | | Instead of turning up the television volume, they |
| when your history test is over." | | | | turn it down or off. This is sound sensitivity, also |
| But what if this happens every few weeks? Might | | | | known as phonophobia. |
| it be migraine? Is there such a thing as migraine in | | | | 10. OSMOPHOBIA: Migraine in children will |
| children? | | | | sometimes cause sensitivity to smells. Even if you |
| Betsy's Migraines - a true story | | | | aren't cooking liver-and-onions, your child may |
| My introduction to the possibility of migraine in | | | | complain that dinner smells awful. For those who |
| children came when I was teaching fourth grade | | | | want the technical term, smell sensitivity is known |
| in Massachusetts. That's when I met 9-year old | | | | as osmophobia. |
| Betsy. Betsy was a pretty child, but headaches | | | | 11. MOTION SICKNESS: Those who suffer |
| kept her from making either friends or academic | | | | migraine in children have a tendency toward travel |
| progress. Betsy claimed to experience regular | | | | sickness. Even when not in a vehicle, a sufferer |
| bouts of migraine in children. Her doting mother | | | | may complain of dizziness. |
| vowed that Betsy's attacks were real, but I was | | | | 12. CONFUSION: Finally, and this is the last |
| skeptical, since they always coincided with things | | | | symptom we will look at, if your son or daughter |
| Betsy disliked. | | | | is suffering migraine in children, he or she is likely |
| Even more suspicious was Betsy's behavior during | | | | to exhibit confusion and trouble concentrating. You |
| attacks. She began with plausible head-holding and | | | | might tell your teenager, "You aren't thinking |
| tears. She begged for her mother to come and | | | | straight." |
| get her. Then, her act always went over the top. | | | | Is It Migraine in Children? |
| Looking around the room to be sure she had | | | | There you have 12 symptoms. Some will exhibit |
| attention, Betsy shook her head violently from | | | | all - others will exhibit a few. Some will have |
| side to side. "You have to do this when you have | | | | authentic migraine in children - some will not. How |
| migraine," she announced loudly. She hit her head, | | | | do you tell? |
| and turned on the waterworks - always keeping a | | | | PATTERN: First, note whether your child's attacks |
| shrewd eye on her audience. When her mother | | | | follow a regular, intermittent pattern. Migraine in |
| arrived, Betsy abruptly stopped shaking her head, | | | | children comes back again and again, following a |
| and moaned piteously. The curtain fell as her | | | | pattern. Look for headaches that are very |
| mother wrapped Betsy in her arms and ushered | | | | severe, lasting a few hours, and followed by an |
| her from the room. | | | | interval of no symptoms. Days or weeks later, a |
| True Migraine in Children | | | | similar attack occurs, followed by another |
| While I never received professional confirmation | | | | symptom-free interval. Migraine in children has a |
| that Betsy suffered migraine in children, I did learn | | | | rhythm. |
| that the condition is authentic. Its name is | | | | FAMILY HISTORY: Check to see if there is a |
| "migraine in children", even when it refers to only | | | | history of migraine in your family. There may be |
| one child. | | | | a tendency toward migraine in children. |
| Facts about Migraine in Children | | | | PHYSICIAN: Ask your doctor. A doctor will focus |
| Migraine affects people of all ages, social classes, | | | | on ruling out other serious diseases or underlying |
| races, and cultures. It is most prevalent between | | | | conditions. If there are none, you will have the |
| ages 20 and 50, but migraine in children hits | | | | doctor's reassurance, and a plan for effective |
| younger generations. Often misdiagnosed initially | | | | treatment. I am not a professional, and my |
| as a "headache excuse" to avoid unpleasant | | | | information must always be checked with your |
| tasks, migraine in children is real. Let me give you | | | | health care professional. |
| seven facts. | | | | If your child's attacks are migraine in children, you |
| * Migraine often runs in families. | | | | can provide relief. |
| * Young babies and preschoolers can suffer | | | | Relief of Migraine in Children |
| migraine in children. | | | | * SLEEP: Sleep is the most important factor when |
| * Migraine in children begins earlier in boys than in | | | | it comes to migraine in children. In many cases, |
| girls. | | | | several hours of sleep in a dark, quiet room is all |
| * Up to 6 years, boys are affected equally or | | | | that is required. |
| slightly more than girls. | | | | * ICE PACK: Try placing a cold compress on your |
| * At elementary school level, 10 percent suffer | | | | child's head as he or she lies in a dark, quiet room. |
| migraine in children. | | | | * OTC: With your physician's approval, use |
| * The prevalence of migraines increases during | | | | over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, |
| secondary school. | | | | ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. |
| * 20-30% of young women and 10-20% of | | | | * PRECRIPTION: Your physician may want to |
| young men experience migraines. | | | | prescribe a medication for recurring attacks of |
| Migraine in children attacks every age from birth | | | | migraine in children. |
| to age 20. | | | | * WARM BATH: A hot Epsom salt bath may help |
| Symptoms of Migraine in Children | | | | an older child or teenager. |
| So, since your young daughter may be suffering | | | | The most effective of these is usually sleep. |
| migraine in children, and not simply avoiding a test, | | | | How Migraine Affects Your Children |
| we need to look for signs. What are the | | | | In closing, I'd like to tell you about Thomas. |
| symptoms of migraine in children? | | | | Thomas was a mischievous, high-maintenance little |
| 1. PAIN: First of all, migraine in children is very | | | | boy. From the time he could toddle, Thomas was |
| painful, with severe throbbing in the head. Your | | | | on the go. Morning to night, he seemed never to |
| daughter will probably report pain in the forehead, | | | | stop. He talked incessantly, played loudly. |
| or the middle of the head, rather than just one | | | | Everything Thomas did was at top speed and |
| side. | | | | volume. |
| 2. PALLOR: Typically, migraine in children will cause | | | | Then, one bright autumn day in his eighth year, |
| sufferers to appear ill and pale. There may be | | | | Thomas didn't want to eat breakfast. Pale and |
| dark rings around the eyes. | | | | listless, he lay on the couch, eyes closed. When his |
| 3. QUIETNESS: A child suffering migraine in children | | | | buddy called that the school bus was coming, |
| will be very quiet. You may have trouble getting | | | | Thomas covered his ears and moaned. When |
| your child to say more than, "My head hurts." He | | | | Mother opened the curtains to let in sunshine, |
| or she will choose to sit or lie in aching silence. | | | | Thomas covered his eyes. It was his first |
| 4. STILLNESS: Unlike Betsy in the schoolroom, | | | | migraine. |
| children with migraines do not want to move any | | | | Thomas lost that day. He missed the introduction |
| part of their bodies. They certainly do not want | | | | of multiplication at school. He missed a film in |
| to shake their heads. If a headache complaint is | | | | history class. He missed an afternoon hayride with |
| followed by a running off to play, do not suspect | | | | his cub scout pack. |
| migraine in children. | | | | Thomas lost many days after that. He lost days |
| 5. NAUSEA: For those taking notes, we're on the | | | | to migraine in children, and he lost symptom-free |
| fifth symptom now. Your child may complain of | | | | days out of fear. He began moving more quietly, |
| feeling sick in the stomach. He or she may not | | | | more slowly. As additional migraines came and |
| want to eat anything, and may vomit. | | | | went, his bubbly laughter was gradually replaced |
| 6. ABDOMINAL PAIN: In very young children, the | | | | by sadness and worry. |
| main symptoms of migraine in children are | | | | Thomas' story is fictional, but it describes the |
| abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and | | | | experience of many who suffer migraine in |
| vomiting. | | | | children. |
| 7. VISUAL DISTURBANCES: Some children | | | | If you think your son or daughter may have |
| experience changes in vision during an attack of | | | | migraine in children, I urge you to take him or her |
| migraine in children. They may have blurry vision, | | | | to your family doctor. Check for underlying |
| see flashes of light, or describe zigzag patterns in | | | | problems, and discuss treatment possibilities. |
| front of their eyes. | | | | Whatever you do, don't ignore migraine in children. |
| 8. PHOTOPHOBIA: Your child may complain of light | | | | Appropriate diagnosis and treatment can greatly |
| being too bright, and may want to go to a dark | | | | improve their quality of life. |