Abdominal Migraine
Though classic migraines are common in adolescents and children, a condition known as abdominal migraine is much more common in children and differs from traditional migraine headaches.
Migraine abdominal symptoms may last anywhere from 1 to 72 hours and will generally reoccur over and over again.
Some studies may indicate that up to 2 to 4 percent of children may experience abdominal migraines, mostly between the ages of 5 and 9 years old. Particularly troubling is the thought that children younger than 5 may be experiencing the condition but remain undiagnosed because they are unable to communicate occurrence of stomach migraine symptoms.
Abdominal migraines may be related to another condition known as cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) and have been also called “periodic syndrome”. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for a parent to get a diagnosis for a child with migraine abdominal symptoms as most medical professionals will seek alternative diagnoses before even considering this fairly unknown disorder.
Abdominal Migraine Symptoms
As abdominal migraines present with a number of different symptoms, it is easy to see how the condition may not be considered until all others are ruled out. Migraine abdominal symptoms may include:
- pain in the abdomen
- nausea/vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- sensitivity to light
- irritability
- flushed or pale appearance
- dark shadows under the eye
- headache
- changes in behavior
Abdominal Migraine Risk Factors
Risk factors for the development of abdominal migraines include a family history of migraines. Most children who experience stomach migraine symptoms will have a parent (most likely the mother) who has had migraines. In addition, many children with abdominal migraines go on to develop traditional “classic” migraines, complete with headache pain.
If your child has abdominal migraine symptoms, it will certainly be important to rule out other conditions before attempting treatment. Some other conditions that will likely be considered may include appendicitis, food poisoning, epilepsy, mononucleosis and the “flu”. Once these are ruled out, treatment may be considered with traditional migraine remedies including analgesics and anti nausea medications.
Abdominal Migraine Treatment
Some physicians may recommend over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil or Alleve, while others may choose to use “triptans” such as Imitrex or Zomig depending upon the age of the child as not all prescription medications have been thoroughly tested in children. Most children will also receive a medications such as Phenergan or Reglan for nausea and vomiting if those symptoms are troublesome. In any case, once the disorder is identified treatment should be immediate upon the first sign of an abdominal migraine symptom as the pain is much easier to stop if it is treated right away. Parents should also take care to note any prodromal symptoms that occur before the pain starts such as irritability, changes in appetite or other behavioral changes as these may help parents anticipate the onset of abdominal migraine.
