Migraine headaches are not normal headaches that go away after taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Migraines are more intense, with symptoms that affect not only the head but other areas of the body, as well. Migraine symptoms are not always constant from episode to episode, even in the same person, making the condition difficult to diagnose. FamilyDoctor.org, a service of the American Academy of Family Physicians, reports that about 5 percent of elementary school-age children may experience migraine headaches. By the time a child reaches high school, this statistic jumps to 20 percent. Children who have migraine headaches can benefit from attentive medical-care providers who can help them find the words to describe the symptoms they feel in order to result in a firm diagnosis.
Aura
Children who have migraine headaches may speak of seeing "weird things," such as dots or squiggly lines in front of their eyes. Some youngsters may see a series of flashes or other patterns that interrupt normal vision. These kinds of visual interferences are referred to as an aura, and can be frightening to a child, especially if this is her first time having a migraine. While auras are common symptoms of migraines in adults and children, not every person who develops migraine symptoms will experience an aura. Even kids who get frequent migraines may sometimes report an aura and other times not show this symptom.
Headache
As a migraine is a type of headache, pain in the head is expected to be a symptom, but this is not always the case. Some children display an aura and other symptoms of a migraine but do not feel pain in their heads. Most children who do experience pain describe either a deep throbbing or a series of sharp pains. Pressure, such as a tight squeezing of the head, can also be a symptom of a migraine headache in children. Often, head pain associated with pediatric migraines is centered in the middle of the forehead. Some people may describe it as hurting behind their eyes. This is different than the one-sided headache symptoms that are more common to adult migraine sufferers.
Stomachache
Nausea and vomiting is a very common migraine symptom in adults, and this symptom extends to children, as well. In addition to nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea can also be signs of a child's migraine headache. Stomach symptoms of migraine headache can come on very suddenly and may be a first warning that a migraine is in progress if the child does not experience an aura or other warning signs.
Sensory Sensitivity
As a child's migraine progresses, he may become extremely sensitive to light and noise. Normal, everyday activities and noise levels may seem too loud, too bright and too much movement for a child who is developing a migraine headache. He may want nothing more than to lie down in a dark, quiet room. This sensory sensitivity usually passes once the head pain subsides, but may linger a bit longer in some children. A cool, damp cloth over the eyes may help dull the pain and also block even the slightest light from bothering the child during the peak of the migraine.
Duration of Symptoms
Symptoms vary from child to child but a migraine headache generally runs its course in a matter of a few hours. Children who are more prone to severe migraines may experience some symptoms for up to two days, or may just not feel "right" for a time after the majority of symptoms have dissipated. Feeling tired and a little sluggish after a migraine is not unusual. Some children experience an episode once or twice a year, while others may have more frequent, and even weekly symptoms, especially in the pre-teen years.
