Maybe you have migraine yourself, or someone you know does. You start to wonder if your child is going through
same thing. They might be complaining of headaches, or going through cycles of symptoms that are familiar to migraine sufferers. Here are 5 things to keep in mind as you try to help your child:1. Migraine can strike in children
More than half of 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 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.
2. Don't assume your child is just looking for attention
Sometimes it's hard to tell if children are really suffering, or if they're trying to get out of something. Some children of migraineurs may simply imitate behavior that they've seen in a parent. Dr Sarah Cheyette, a pediatric neurologist and a mother herself, suggests that you not focus on pain but tell your child they will "feel better soon". At same time, keep a close watch for yourself and try to see patterns.
3. Remember that migraine is different in everyone
We're all familiar with headache pain that often goes along with migraine. But sometimes migraine attacks do not involve pain at all. Some people only see flashing lights. There's nausea. Weakness. Pain in different areas, even abdomen. Watch for overall patterns in your child that may be related. Look for times when their behavior changes. When they're sick to their stomach. It's up to you to watch for symptoms that your child may not even realize are there.
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.
