Has your child been complaining of severe migraine headache pains? Is there cause for concern or can you simply dismiss these pains as migraine headaches are not life threatening in the first place? You may also be apt to think that your child is giving you another excuse for not attending school. But really, if the reasons are valid and the headache pains are real, early detection is vital for the well being of your child. It is important to know that your child is suffering from migraines as they can cause emotional changes such as anxiety or depression. About 65-80% of children with migraines interrupt their normal activities because of their headaches. In one study of 970,000 self-reported migraineurs aged 6-18 years, 329,000 school days were lost per month.
Migraine in Children
My introduction to the possibility of migraine in children came when I was teaching fourth grade in Massachusetts. That’s when I met 9-year old Betsy. Betsy was a pretty child, but headaches kept her from making either friends or academic progress. Betsy claimed to experience regular bouts of migraine in children. Her doting mother vowed that Betsy’s attacks were real, but I was skeptical, since they always coincided with things Betsy disliked.
Migraine affects people of all ages, social classes, races, and cultures. It is most prevalent between ages 20 and 50, but migraine in children hits younger generations. Often misdiagnosed initially as a “headache excuse” to avoid unpleasant tasks, migraine in children is real. Let me give you seven facts.
• Migraine often runs in families.
* Young babies and preschoolers can suffer migraine in children.
* Migraine in children begins earlier in boys than in girls.
* Up to 6 years, boys are affected equally or slightly more than girls.
More than half of the adult migraineurs (migraine sufferers) report that they had their first headache as a child. Of children with migraine, it’s estimated that about a third get their first attack before the age of 5. We know that children as young as 2 deal with migraine, and possibly even infants, although we still don’t understand exactly how infants interact with pain.
Child migraine Treatments
There’s no reason to panic if you think your child may have migraine. Even if you’ve struggled with migraine for years yourself, treatments for your child may be different and more effective.
Don’t assume that your medication will work for your child. Many adult drugs have not been tested for children and are not known to be safe. The same goes for natural therapies.
Read About Depression Medications and also read about Managing child Migraine and Menopause Migraine
Tags: Child migraine Treatments, Managing child Migraine, Migraine in Children
