Overview

Migraines are severe, throbbing headaches that usually occur on one side of the head. But they can move from side to side or affect both sides. They often occur with nausea or vomiting. People with a migraine are often very sensitive to light, noise, and smells. Changes in vision may happen before the headache. Some of these changes are flashing lights or dark spots.

Kids get migraine headaches too. Migraine headaches often run in families. A migraine can be triggered by a variety of things. This can include certain foods (chocolate, cheese, fast food) or odours, smoke, bright light, stress, dehydration, hunger, or lack of sleep.

Without treatment, your child's migraine headache can last 2 to 72 hours. For most children, migraine headaches return from time to time. Home treatment can help reduce how often and how uncomfortable the migraine headaches are.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Begin home treatment at the first sign of a migraine. Your child should go to a quiet, dark place and relax. Most headaches will go away after rest or sleep.
• Let your child know that watching TV or reading during a headache can make the headache worse.
• If your doctor has prescribed medicine to stop your child's migraines, have your child take it at the first sign of a migraine. This can help stop the headache before it gets worse. If your doctor has prescribed medicine to be taken daily, make sure that your child takes it every day even if your child does not have a headache.
• If your doctor has not prescribed medicine for your child's migraines, give your child a pain reliever, such as children's acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). Have your child take the medicine at the first sign of a migraine. This can help stop the headache before it gets worse. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Don't let your child take medicine for headache pain too often. Talk to your child's doctor if your child is taking medicine more than 2 days a week to stop a headache. Taking too much pain medicine can lead to more headaches. These are called medicine-overuse headaches.
• Put a cold, moist cloth or ice pack on the part of the head that hurts. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin. Do not use heat—it can make the pain worse.
• Gently massage your child's neck and shoulders.
• Do not ignore new symptoms that occur with a headache, such as a fever, weakness or numbness, vision changes, or confusion. These may be signs of a more serious problem.

To prevent migraine headaches:

• Keep a headache diary so that you can figure out what triggers your child's headaches. Record when each headache begins, how long it lasts, where it hurts, and what the pain is like. Write down any other symptoms your child has with the headache, such as nausea, flashing lights or dark spots, or sensitivity to bright light or loud noise. List anything that might have triggered the headache. When you know what things trigger your child's headaches, try to avoid them.
• Make sure that your child drinks 4 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Avoid drinks that have caffeine. Many popular soda drinks contain caffeine.
• Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep. Most children need to sleep 8 to 10 hours each night.
• Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise. But make sure your child doesn't exercise too hard. For some children, strenuous exercise may trigger a headache.
• Make sure that your child does not skip meals. Provide regular, healthy meals.
• Keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your house.
• Find healthy ways to deal with stress. Do not overbook your child's time.
• Seek help if you think your child may be depressed or anxious. Treating these problems may reduce the number of migraines your child has.
• Limit the amount of time your child spends in front of the TV and computer.