Treating the Child’s Mind

!–paging_filter–pWhile most people begin experiencing migraines in their teen years, children as young as two or three can have them too. Often their symptoms are different than adult migraines, making diagnosis tricky for parents and doctors. br /Kids who get migraines aren’t guaranteed to get them as adults, says Heidi Blume, a pediatric neurologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Interestingly, boys are more prone to getting them than girls, until they hit puberty. She says children’s migraines are often shorter in duration and the pain may be across both sides of the forehead. Sometimes vomiting and dizziness are the most prominent signs. Other symptoms can be blurry vision, difficulty reading, stomach pain, flushing, sweating, pallor, and dark circles under the eyes.br /Young kids may have trouble describing their symptoms to parents. Instead parents or doctors can ask a child to draw what they are feeling. Sylvia Lucas, director of the UW Headache Clinic says one child drew a picture of two trains heading towards each other to describe the pain in his head.br /Triggers for kids with migraines can include stress, hunger or poor nutrition, dehydration, and lack of sleep. She says parents and kids can keep a headache diary to try to track any patterns. nbsp;br /For prevention, Blume advises patients to take a “SMART” approach to headaches. This includes regular and sufficient sleep, meals that include good nutrition and hydration, aerobic exercise, relaxation, and trigger avoidance. br /If a headache does occur, parents should act fast. “At the first sign of a headache, give the child some water and let them rest,” she says. Occasional use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen is okay too, she says, as long as it is not more than two or three times a week.br /For kids with more difficult to treat migraines, there are prescription medications that can be used. Ask your doctor about alternative therapies, such as biofeedback techniques or acupuncture as well./p