Although migraines usually take the form of intense head pain, some people experience abdominal migraines that may or may not include headache. Migraine headaches most commonly affect people over the age of 15, but abdominal migraines are common in children. This form of migraine usually includes pain in the upper portion of the central abdomen. Although the cause of abdominal migraines frequently remains unknown, excluding certain foods from your child's diet may help minimize these occurrences.
Abdominal Migraine
Migraine attacks in adults often include nausea and vomiting. Migraine attacks in children may cause recurrent bouts of vomiting and abdominal pain, often without a headache. Known as childhood periodic syndrome, the existence of this condition during childhood may indicate a higher likelihood of developing typical migraine headaches during adulthood.
Diet
Like other forms of migraine pain, abdominal migraine may occur for a variety of reasons, including the consumption of certain foods, known as migraine triggers. Foods that could trigger a migraine episode include items with nitrates, such as lunch meats and hot dogs. Foods with MSG, such as certain seasonings and spices, as well as some fast foods, also can increase the risk of migraines. Tyramine, another ingredient that may cause migraine attacks, is a substance in soy products, aged cheeses, smoked fish and hard sausages. Eliminating these potential triggers may help protect your child against migraine attacks. Reducing your child's intake of aspartame, an artificial sweetener and another potential migraine trigger, also may reduce the likelihood of an abdominal migraine.
Other Triggers
Changes in weather, as well as stress and anxiety, can increase your child's risk of experiencing the abdominal pain of a migraine episode. Excessive or inadequate amounts of sleep, skipping meals or exposure to bright lights, strong odors or loud noises also can increase this risk.
Precautions
Although some episodes of childhood stomachaches may be abdominal migraines, stomach pain also could indicate the presence of an underlying illness or medical disorder. Talk to your child's pediatrician about recurrent stomachaches. Your child may require certain medical tests to rule out food allergies and other potential disorders. Avoid making big changes to your child's diet without a medical recommendation, especially if your child takes medication or has a serious health condition.
