Stress management

By: Eileen Davies
Migraines are experienced by millions of people, both men and women.  Unfortunately, children are included in these numbers.  It can be difficult to diagnose migraine headaches in children, which is largely due to a lack of communication between the parents and the children.  Quite often, children will say they have a headache, but nothing more about symptoms they may be experiencing.

Headaches are commonly experienced in children as a result of illness or temporary injury.  Sometimes excessive stress or puberty can cause headaches.  Migraine headaches are much different than these types of headaches.  A migraine will often be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes visual disturbances and flashing light.  Basically, the symptoms that an adult would experience with a migraine also applies to children.

Try to keep a headache journal for your child or have them keep one if they are old enough.  This is a good way to identify particular information about the migraines, like intensity and the symptoms that are experienced.  With this information a doctor can work to provide the right kind of treatment for your child's migraines.

You should also try to keep a record of what your child was doing at the time the migraine hit.  If they were at the computer or playing a game, or even text messaging, this information can also help in treatment.  In some cases, migraines in children can be caused as a result of eye strain.

Treatments that your doctor recommends with vary depending on your child's age, weight, and height.  The treatment can also be influenced by the type of triggers that are identified by your records.  In most situations, the doctor will prescribe medication to use as a preventative and a medication that should be taken at the beginning of a migraine headache.