Yes, it is true that children can experience migraine headaches. It has been reported that a child as young as eighteen months old has suffered a migraine. Ten percent of children in school have migraines. Half of children reporting migraines suffer an attack before age twelve.
Migraines are actually a neurological disorder caused by a malfunction of the nervous system. What are some symptoms to look for?
- Severe head pain
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light, sound, smells, and touch
- Stomach pain
- Mood change.
Thankfully, children usually have fewer migraines than adults, and the normally do not last as long, but the pain can still be just as severe. This can definitely be disabling to a child.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and migraines download our complimentary e-book Natural and Drug-Free Ways to End Your Migraines by clicking the image below.
Treatment for Migraines in Children
Some common treatments for migraines in children include pain management using prescription drugs or over-the-counter pain killers. Rather than preventing an onset of a migraine, this treats the symptoms created after a migraine happens. Some preventative medication can be prescribed, such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, channel calcium blockers, antihistamines, and NSAIDs. But many of these come with dangerous side effects. So, what can parents do to help their children feel better?
A recent study revealed a possible solution. A sixteen-year-old girl presented with chronic headaches one to two times a week. She was given a series of treatments by an upper cervical chiropractor. The focus was on realigning her atlas bone. The atlas bone is the top bone of the vertebrae and is inclined to become easily misaligned. This area of the neck also houses the brainstem and the nervous system. A misalignment here can put undue pressure on the brainstem causing signals being sent to and from the brain and body to be distorted. This can create migraine-like symptoms. Once this misalignment has been corrected, the young girl saw a decrease in the severity and occurrence of migraines. Some patients have seen migraines go away altogether.
Even if a child does not suffer from migraines, it is a good idea to bring him or her to see an upper cervical chiropractor to make sure the spine is in good health and to prevent future health problems.
Reference
- Ferri F. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor, 2012 ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby; 2012.
- Migraine Research Foundation. Migraine in Children. http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/Migraine%20in%20Children.html (accessed 02 July 2015).
- Bernard M, Alcantara J, Pierce S. The Care of a Teenage Girl with Migraine Headaches with the Advanced Orthogonal Procedure: A Case Report . J. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research 2013; 2013(1): 14-19.
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