Child Migraine Everyday

by Angela L
(Newark Ohio U.S.A.)

My 9 year old daughter has a headache almost everyday. I took her to the doctor today he thinks she has migraines. I am very worried; the headache is mostly across the forehead and between the eyes. She hardly ever gets them in the summer the doctor says she looks too healthy for him to think it is something more then migraines.

He gave her 50mg imitrex he said if the headache goes away from that then has migraines.

Thanks Angela L.

Answer:

Hi Angela,

I am glad you took your daughter to the doctor for this. Many times parents are unaware that headaches in children can rarely point to something more serious than migraine.

You do not mention if there is migraine or headaches in the family. Even if your mother or grandmother had mild headaches, say for instance, with menses, then they had migraines. There is a genetic component to migraine.

Migraine in children is sometimes called stomach migraines due to the fact that many children will have abdominal pain as the most prominent symptom.

It is a bit of a clue that your daughter does not have headaches in the summer. I have seen this many times in children and what I usually uncover is some sort of school stressor..it might be too overwhelming to do so much homework, there is a teacher the child doesn't like or another student. I have also seen children who had schedules busier than mine! That much stress is bound to provoke headaches.

The doctor is right...Imitrex will only work if the headache is a migraine. If you have not tried the Imitrex yet give it a try. It is a very safe drug and can ease her pain. If it brings the headache down, repeat the dose in 2 hours, maximum is 2 doses in 24 hours. Obviously if it has no effect, then get back to the doctor.

One thing we have seen in our clinic is that children and adolescents respond much better to migraine headache treatment of vitamin supplements than adults do. There are several brands such as Migralief that are combinations of these supplements. Please discuss with the doctor before giving them to your daughter.

Good luck!
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C