If the migraines are frequent, you may need to discuss a preventative strategy as well.
Pediatric Migraines: Kids Under 10
Migraines can begin as young as preschool age.
About 3% of preschoolers are diagnosed with migraines.Migraines occur in about 4-11% of elementary school age children.
Verywell
Typically, migraine symptoms start in late afternoon in this age group.
This age group also tends to have head pain in the front of the head or on both sides.
As children enter the tween/teen stage, migraines tend to occur earlier in the morning.
Most kids improve with OTC treatment, but sometimes, a prescription is necessary to manage the symptoms.
These, along with anti-nausea medications, are commonly used for childhood migraines.
Never assume it’s safe to give your child a lower dose of your own medication.
There are two types of OTC medicine commonly used to treat headaches in children.
These include:
Ginger may also be helpful as a treatment for migraine nausea.
Talk to your child’s pediatrician for more details.
Always read the box, as aspirin is an ingredient in many OTC migraine medications.
Overuse of some OTC painkillers can actually cause headaches.
The first step with addressing migraines is often to identify what triggers might be causing migraine symptoms.
It is worthwhile for you to talk with your child about the various symptoms that occur with their migraines.
attempt to identify the earliest signs.
Avoiding Triggers
Medications can only do so much.
Identifying and avoiding migraine triggers is an essential part of a complete migraine treatment and prevention plan.
Migraines can be triggered by a number of factors, including stress and lack of sleep.
Paying attention to these migraine triggers can often alleviate the need for medication in the first place.
Once migraines are diagnosed, it’s possible for you to focus on managing and preventing the episodes.
Children can be as young as pre-school age when first affected by a migraine.
With treatment, 50% of children stated migraine symptoms improved within six months of beginning treatment.
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