A migraine is a severe headache believed to be caused by changes in the levels of serotonin--a neurochemical--within the brain, report health officials at FamilyDoctor.org. These health officials explain that approximately 5 percent of elementary-aged children develop childhood migraine symptoms. Childhood migraine symptoms can be incredibly disruptive and may affect a child's performance in school. Children who develop childhood migraine symptoms should be seen by a doctor for further evaluation and treatment.
Throbbing Head Pain
The most common symptom associated with childhood migraines is pain. Children who experience migraines can develop intense, throbbing pain near the front or on both sides of the head. Older adolescents and adults with migraines typically only experience painful sensations on one side of the head, explain health officials at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Prior to the emergence of these painful migraine symptoms, certain children can develop vision disturbances--called aura--that include shadows or lines in front of the eyes. Throbbing migraine pain can last for as little as an hour or may persist for up to two days.
Nausea or Vomiting
Painful migraine symptoms can cause certain children with this condition to develop an upset stomach. Symptoms of an upset stomach during a migraine episode can include nausea or vomiting, which can exacerbate headache symptoms. Stomach upset symptoms may make it difficult for affected children to move about normally or ride in a car. These symptoms will subside as head pain begins to diminish.
Light or Sound Sensitivity
A child experiencing a migraine may exhibit increased sensitivity to light or sound. Loud noises or bright lights can worsen head pain or stomach upset symptoms in these children. Affected children may hide under blankets in bed to block out irritating noises or lights during migraine episodes.
Pale Skin or Irritability
Children who develop migraine symptoms may look unusually pale or sickly as a symptom of this condition. These children may also become abnormally irritable or cranky and may begin to cry, explain medical professionals at The Children's Hospital, an Aurora, Colorado-based affiliate of the University of Colorado, Denver. Pale skin and increased irritability should be discussed with a child's pediatrician as these childhood migraine symptoms can be indicative of alternate medical conditions, such as low blood sugar.
