Children and Adolescents
Victoria - British Columbia - Canada - Vertigo- dizziness - motion sickness - TMJ problems - jaw pain - hip pelvic pain - Headaches - Migraines - Headache Relief - Migraine Relief - Migraine Headaches - Migraine Symptoms - Tension Headaches - Chronic Headaches - Alternative Medicine - Neck Pain - Lower Back Pain - Migraine Headaches - Migraine Symptoms

It has been estimated that ten percent of children suffer from migraines and headaches, with an even higher percentage among adolescents. Migraines and headaches begin earlier in boys. Up to seven years of age boys are affected equally or slightly more than girls.

The onset of migraine in girls is closely linked to the first menstrual period at approximately 11 to 12 years of age. Girls are more likely to begin having migraine during the same year of their menarche than at any other age. Once girls begin to develop migraine, their prevalence is greater than that in boys. After age 11, girls are more likely to experience migraine than boys.

As with adults, signs and symptoms can vary. The typical child will report severe pain around the eyes, the front of the head, or the temples. Vision changes, dizziness, abdominal cramping or vomiting are also common. Many avoid bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors, as these seem to make the headache worse. They want to sleep.

The most common accompanying symptoms include paleness with dark circles under the eyes, tearing, swollen nasal passages, thirst, swelling, excessive sweating, increased urination, and diarrhea. Older children tend to present with headache on one side. Many sinus headaches are really of migrainous origin. The headache location and intensity often changes within or between attacks.

As children grow older, headache intensity and duration increases, and migraines start to happen at more regular intervals. Older children also describe a pulsating or throbbing character to their headaches. Headaches often shift to the one-sided temple location.

Children with headache miss approximately twice as many days per school year compared to children without headaches. Low self-esteem and depressive symptoms are common among adolescent girls with headaches. The longer school absence is maintained, the more difficult it is for children to return to school because of failure to maintain academic work and fear of isolation from peers on return to school.

It is important to find out if the pattern detailed on the “Evaluation” page is present, as it could well be a major factor in your child’s headaches.

When assessing young children, position yourself so that with the child standing, their pelvis is at your eye level. Follow the steps outlined under “Evaluating someone else”

Back To Top