Does my child have migraine? 5 things to consider... by James Cottrill

It was a long time before I was actually diagnosed with headaches. For a long time I just had a vague idea that I "didn't feel well" at various times, though I couldn't really explain it. Your child may be dealing with something similar. Write down what you observe and share it with your doctor.

4. When to contact a doctor

Contact a doctor right away if there is a sudden change in the headaches your child is experiencing. This is especially important if your child gets any of the following symptoms: stiff neck, fever, dizziness, problems breathing, blurred vision, or headaches that are made worse with exertion. Your doctor can guide you through further observation and testing.

5. Learn about the available 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.

However, there are very effective treatments for children. Many common painkillers may be sufficient, as long as they're not taken too often (in many cases twice a week should be the maximum). For many, lifestyle changes can make a huge difference - more exercise, better eating habits, for example. One natural treatment that seems to work very well for children is biofeedback. When it comes to specific migraine drugs, recent trials have found certain doses of Imitrex to be helpful for children.

Children with migraine can look forward to treatments that were not even thought of ten years ago, and they live in a world where we have a far better understanding of migraine every year. Migraine does not have to ruin the life of a child, but can be an important challenge that you can help them through.

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BIO:

James Cottrill is himself a migraineur and health writer for http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com. He lives with his wife, son, and daughter in Canada. You can read more about child migraines at http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/childmigraines.html

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