What is headache in children? What are the symptoms of headache in children?
A newborn baby occurs as well as a perception of pain from the fetus. Headache in children and adolescents is also a common problem. Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology. Dr. Dr. Derya Uludüz gave information about why children have headache, causes of headache in children and typical features and treatment of migraine in children.
What are the causes of headache in children?
The advances in technology in recent years, easy access of children to devices such as tablets, smart phones, exposure to electromagnetic stimuli, changes in dietary habits, ready, supplemented, packaged foods, excessive consumption of junk food style, sleepless sleep until late caused headaches in children to become more frequent.
There is a genetic predisposition and a triggering factor for migraine. For example, children can have insomnia by looking at their electronic devices until the morning. Irregular nutrition can also trigger headaches in children. So if a child starts the day with toast and tea at 11:00 in the morning, it is difficult to correct the child's headache. The child's social relations, psychological state, and what is going on in the family are also important. In addition, hormonal factors also play a triggering role.
What are the most important symptoms of migraine?
Preschool children may not be able to describe their headaches exactly, but the child is forced to quit his favorite game during the pain, does not want to watch his favorite movie, wants to retire to a quiet dim environment, his face is pale and sluggish, sometimes headache is really severe. The most important criterion suggesting migraine in headache is the severity of the pain.
Vomiting attacks: Vomiting attacks that occur at infrequent intervals such as 2-3 months, can last for hours without any reason, and cannot be prevented. During attacks, the child is pale sluggish and restless. Vomits for minutes, pauses a little vomiting and vomits repeat during the day. All investigations are done, but no reason can be found. The most important clue in migraine is headaches and attacks, and the child is completely normal except attacks. Vomiting attacks decrease after the age of 9-10 and may turn to migraine headaches with a frequency of 40 percent.
Dizziness attacks: Similar to vomiting attacks, sudden onset, severe dizziness attacks that cause the child to stop playing. Nausea and vomiting may accompany. The child has a fearful facial expression, restless and in a state of panic. Attacks can take minutes, hours, and then the child returns to normal. It is completely healthy between attacks.
Abdominal pain attacks (abdominal migraine): Monthly or every 2-3 months, especially around the belly, especially marked severe attacks of abdominal pain. These attacks are fever-free, and may be confused with familial mediterranean fever disease (FMF), which sometimes presents with fever. Therefore, they should be examined well. Abdominal migraine will change to migraine headaches with a frequency of 60 percent, decreasing in later years.
All these clinical features should suggest migraine, and the most important clue is that they are severe in episodes, and that the child is completely healthy except for episodes. Migraine treatment is applied in the treatment of all these migraine equivalents. Otherwise, when the diagnosis cannot be made and the wrong treatment is given, complaints continue and the frequency of migraine increases in the following years.
How is migraine treated in children?
Migraine in children is much easier to treat than adults. We can only control headaches with lifestyle changes without using any medication. In children, sleep patterns, feeding patterns are important in eliminating pain. Accompanying allergic manifestations, eye problems, elimination of bowel problems increase the success of treatment. Some children with migraine may experience brain electrical stimulation disturbances. Therefore, the presence of these abnormal stimuli should be checked by EEG (electroencephalography).
Keeping children away from painkillers as much as possible will prevent the headaches from worsening. To find the right cause of the headache, the specialist needs to listen to the child. If you avoid these reasons, you will be able to get rid of the headache. Excessive use of electronics and malfunctions should also be controlled.
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