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The Complete Guide to Migraine Headaches by Alice Peart Page 31 of 87

10. Migraine Headaches in Children

Migraines affect children too. It could start from the age of seven or ten. It

affects boys and girls equally. However, boys outgrow a migraine in their

adolescence while girls experience them with greater frequency and intensity due

to hormonal changes.

Children are often unable to express any symptoms of a migraine. Therefore, if
headaches occur weekly or occur regularly, it is best to consult a doctor to
determine the specific causes. Very young children unable to express migraine

headache pain could just hold their heads in their hands and cry. Nevertheless,

there is no specific rule or guideline to predict occurrence and presence of a
migraine in your child.

Causes

A migraine in children is predominantly a hereditary feature. There are other
contributing factors too, like:

Excessive noise and light: Bright light and loud noises, like those of movies on
television, could trigger a migraine. Environmental changes and strong odors

may also cause a migraine.

Emotional disturbances: School problems, peer pressure and parental

expectations cause high stress and anxiety levels in children. Depression sets in
and leads to sad and lonely feelings and thoughts, sometimes causing a

migraine.

Viral Infections: Viral infection in any part of the body like nose, urinary tract,
or lungs could cause fever and associated headaches. Sometimes, these

headaches assume the form of a migraine.

Brain Tumors and Meningitis: A brain tumor is a rare occurrence in children.
However, migraines occur with increased frequency as the tumor grows. The

location of the tumor also decides the severity of a migraine. Meningitis is an

Copyright © 2006 Alice Peart 31.