Does your child have Migraines, what are the symptoms and is worth going to the doctors?

[Jaynerae]

My DD is 4.6, in the last 3 weeks she has woken in the morning 3 times with a headache and has felt sick. Each time she has looked pale, had dark circles under her eyes, hasn't felt like eating or drinking, Has asked us not to talk as it hurts her head. Has fell asleep on the settee, which is most unusual, has vomited after a few hours of feeling sick.

I suffer from Migraines - and these symptons seem very similar - but can children this young get Migraines? is it worth going to the doctors - as they can't do anything for Migraine can they? I have had them since my teens - and went to the docs then but have never been back - I just manage them myself, usually by going to bed, lots of painkillers and patches.

Yesterday she felt very hot aswell and had a rash with it.

What do you think, possibly migraine? or something else?

Worth going to the docs?

She is tired but OK today - so If I go to the docs - symptoms have already gone - so I feel silly then.

DD was diagnosed at 10 with migraines, but had probably had them for a year on and of up to then. I waited for her to have four before we went to the doctor.
I think I would ask your HV what she thinks or go to the doctor.

I would not ignore these symptoms with a child this young. It probably is a migraine, but you really need to rule out anything else.

My dd suffers from headaches - always has done. Hers are stress/tiredness related.

I have always had migraines. Even from being so young.

I would definitely take her to the docs though - and get her eyes tested as well. Just to make sure that they are migraines. They could be a symptom of something else.

DS mind you has had stomach migraines from the age of four.

stomach migraines?

Thanks - I have booked her an eye test as DH, I and DS wear glasses - so thought I would get DD checked out in case that was the cause, I am more inclined to think it is migraines as she wakes up with them rather than has them after she has been up and about using her eyes - iyswim.

Will book appointment at docs - as it really does knock her about.

Thanks again.

In around 4% of children, the predominant symptom for migraine is abdominal pain. As with migraine headaches, the abdominal pain occurs in defined episodes and can be associated with other symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, flushing or pallor, dislike of food, confusion, lack of co-ordination.
Sorry I could not of described this my
self particularly well, so I lifted this from here

Useful website PandS - thanks for the link!

I had migraine from when I was very small, without the headache though, maybe more the stomach kind, they were called periodic syndrome or something then.
Now I have not very many migraines but they are terrible with every symptom possible when they do happen.
A nice doctor once told my mum when I was about 4 that only very intelligent people get migraines! Nice of him but very wrong in my case...still my mum has been clinging onto it for years!

I've had migraines since I was 11-ish, same age as ds2 was diagnosed. But I think he actually had them from babyhood, as he sometimes had unexplained illnesses as Pantiesetc describes. He's grown up now and rarely gets a migraine nowadays.

Hmmm, far more common in children than I realised. Looking at the Link PamdS provided it mentions doing a diary so you can track back for causes.

I know what my triggers are - but am struggling to work out what DD's triggers could be if it is Migraine - she goes to bed at 7pm -7.3opm, she wakes up at various times anything from 5.30am to 8pm dependant on what sleep her body needs I guess.

She doesn't eat well, has always been a very fussy eater and doesn't eat much variety or quantity. But she is not underweight and is fine height wise - so I try not to worry about the eating too much - I tend to think she will eat if she is hungry. She can't seem to eat a lot in one go - seems to eat a small portion. But DS was like this until he started reception and had school dinners - he was cured then and now eats everything! Hoping DD will follow suit!

So I reckon keeping a diary might help work out if there are any triggers.

Some good ideas on that website.

my DD3 has migraines...she is now 9, was DX with them at 6, and she had been getting tummy aches and pallour and other symptom since the age of 4.

now on tabs for them.....buscopan (sp?) which are anti-imflammitory and especially for tummy/head type migraines (so my doc said anyway).

just looked at that site....looks really good.

My dd has abdominal migraine. She's had loads of tests during which they discovered she also had haematuria (sp? blood in urine)
Had even more tests to rule out link between abdominal pain and blood in urine.I have a cupboard full of antispasmodcs and laxatives all of which were useless in treating pain.
They have now arrived at a diagnosis of abdominal migraine and unrelated benign haematuria.
She has been pain free for quite a while now....touch wood...but dr did say she was at increased risk of developing classic migraine when she's older. She's 11 btw

for those of you who have children who suffer - I really feel for them - as I said I get Migraines regularly and they make me feel so ill - so little ones must feel even worse bleess them.

Any - off to take DD to docs.

Thanks all for sharing - really shocked at how many DC's have suffered - and how many of you suffered at such a young age.

Hope DD does not follow me.