My 13-year old son complains of migraine-like headaches quite often especially after a late night up or a long day at school... What medication can i give him?
I fear that he has 'inherited' my migraine which has been plaguing me for the last twenty years....In severe attacks, i take cafergot and synflex.
Hi Migraine mum,
Yes, children can have Migraines and/or headache. Certainly there seems to be a genetic component to Migraines, a genetic neurological disease. If one parent has Migraine disease, there is a 50% risk that their children will have Migraines; if both parents have Migraine the risk goes up to 75%.
Many things can trigger a Migraine attack, but it is important to know the correct diagnosis. This helps with treatment, learning about your Migraines, and being able to get care if you're away from home, etc. You can read more about this in The Type of Migraine Does Matter.
To help get an accurate diagnosis, the doctor to see is a Migraine specialist rather than a neurologist. Neurologists may be fine doctors, but treat so many different conditions like MS, stroke and epilepsy, it is hard for them to be experts in any one area. A Migraine specialist is an expert who treats one area - our - Migraines and headaches. It's important to note that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists. You both can see the Migraine specialist and get the care you need.
I hope this helps,
Nancy
I suffered migraines as a child and they went undiagnosed until I was in my early 20's. The school and my parents often thought I was faking when I went to the nurses office, they thought I wanted to get out of PE. The problem was that I lived in So. Cal. and heat is my worst trigger and another trigger is any bouncing motion. Needless to say running in PE in hot smoggy weather, and crazy hormones, I had a lot of migraines. I don't know why my parents didn't notice, I guess they were busy with there own problems.
I don't know what a child can take but I would definatly get him to a good childrens neurologist. I know they are out there, I had one 20 some years ago for one of my children.
Good luck, L
(Wishing you migraine free days!)
I started getting migraines when I was 11, so from my experience, yes, children do get and suffer from migraines. They always did tend to come on quicker and harder if i wasn't well rested, so make sure that he gets as much sleep as he can (which isn't always easy). Migraines are tough to deal with at a young age, so just offer him as much support as you can and try to get him to a specialist to be properly evaluated. Best of luck to you and your son.
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