Abdominal Migraines
Abdominal Migraines
Everything you need to know about
Abdominal Migraines
Migraines in the abdomen aren’t the same as headaches. Instead, they make your stomach hurt, as the name implies. However, they frequently occur as a result of the same causes that cause migraine headaches. They can be excruciatingly painful, causing nausea, cramping, and, in some cases, vomiting.
Abdominal migraines are more common in children whose family members suffer from migraines. Abdominal migraines affect up to 15% of all children with chronic stomach discomfort; they are uncommon in adults. Girls are more likely to receive them than boys.
In addition, children with stomach migraines are more likely to get migraine headaches as they grow older.
Symptoms
Midline abdominal discomfort refers to pain that occurs in the centre of your child’s body or around their belly button (rather than on the sides). Your child might also be able to:
- Feeling nauseous or throwing up.
- Being pale or flushed.
- Yawning, feeling drowsy, or lacking energy.
- Lose their appetite or won’t be able to eat.
- Underneath their eyes are dark shadows
Migraines in the abdomen are common and can be quite severe. They have the ability to strike without notice. The pain could fade gone in an hour or continue for up to three days.
Diagnosing Abdominal Migraines
It’s difficult to diagnose abdominal migraines in children because they can’t distinguish the difference between regular stomachaches, stomach flu, or other stomach issues.
Because stomach migraines are known to run in families, the doctor will inquire about any family members who suffer from migraines.
They’ll then try to rule out any other possible reasons for stomach pain. They’ll also compare your child’s symptoms to a list of migraine symptoms compiled by migraine experts.
Causes & Triggers
We don’t know what caused them. Changes in the quantities of two substances produced by your body, histamine and serotonin, are one idea. They may be affected if they are unhappy or concerned, according to experts.
Chocolate, foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), and processed meats containing nitrites may all cause stomach migraines in certain people.
Swallowing a large amount of air can also cause them or comparable gastrointestinal problems. It can induce bloating and eating difficulties.
Treating Abdominal Migraines
It is sometimes easier to deal with a problem simply by recognising what it is.
Doctors may treat abdominal migraines like other migraines because we don’t know much about them. However, they rarely prescribe medicines unless the symptoms are severe or occur frequently.
If taken early enough, medications like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be able to stop an attack. If that doesn’t work and the child is over the age of 5, the doctor may prescribe triptans, such as rizatriptan and zolmitriptan, which are available as tablets that dissolve in the mouth, as well as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan, which are available in nasal forms.
Prevention
Kids with stomach migraines may be able to figure out what triggers them with the support of their parents and doctors. Keep a journal, take note of the day and time they got it, what foods they had eaten before it happened, what they were doing before it happened if they had recently taken any medicine, and if there’s anything going on in their lives that could be causing them to worry or have anxiety.
They can try to avoid eating certain foods if they know they cause abdominal migraines. However, this may not be the case for everyone.
Some medications may reduce the severity of episodes or the frequency with which they occur in a child.
- An antihistamine that also helps with stomach problems is cyproheptadine.
- Propranolol (Inderal), a beta-blocker, is a type of heart medicine.
- Valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote) is a seizure and bipolar disorder medication.
Children with stomach migraines should eat a well-balanced diet rich in fibre. Other healthy habits, like daily exercise and adequate sleep, as well as teaching them how to regulate their emotions and solve problems, can also be beneficial.