About abdominal migraine

What is abdominal migraine?

Abdominal migraine in children facts

  • Abdominal migraine is believed to be a variant of migraine that is common in children but rare in adults.
  • Abdominal migraine is characterized by pain in the center of the abdomen that may be severe.
  • Symptoms can last for one hour or up to a several days.
  • Nausea and vomiting may be associated with the pain.
  • Sleep typically brings relief from abdominal migraine. Medications used to treat classic migraine can also be effective, although there is no single treatment that is known to be effective in all patients.
  • Most children with abdominal migraine have a family history of migraine, and most go on to develop migraine as adults.
  • The exact cause of abdominal migraine is poorly understood. It may be related to both neurologic and endocrinologic (hormone) factors.
  • The diagnosis of abdominal migraine can be difficult, and depends upon ruling out other potential causes for the abdominal pain and symptoms. There is no one diagnostic test that confirms the diagnosis.

What is abdominal migraine?

Like adults, children can develop migraines. This can be the same type of condition seen in adults, which is typically occurs with a headache, and is sometimes preceded by an aura. Nausea, vomiting, and photophobia (decreased tolerance to light) can occur. Children also develop some unusual and atypical variations of migraine, not associated with headaches in particular, that are not usually observed in adults. Abdominal migraine is one of these variants.

Abdominal migraine is a condition thought to be related to migraine that is characterized by pain in the abdomen. It is often precipitated by the usual triggers of classic migraine. The pain can be severe, and nausea and vomiting can occur.

Abdominal migraine is rare in adults, but it has been estimated that up to 2% of all children may develop abdominal migraines. Children who have the condition usually go on to develop migraine headaches as adults. Girls are affected more frequently than boys. Abdominal migraine typically occurs for the first time between the ages of 2 and 10.

What are the symptoms for abdominal migraine?

Pale skin symptom was found in the abdominal migraine condition

The main symptom of an abdominal migraine is Pain around the belly button that feels dull or achy. The intensity of the Pain can range from moderate to severe.

Along with the pain, kids will have these symptoms:

Each migraine attack lasts between one hour and three days. In between attacks, kids are healthy and have no symptoms.

The symptoms of an abdominal migraine are similar to those of many other childhood gastrointestinal (GI) conditions — that is, those involving the digestive system. The difference is that abdominal migraine symptoms come and go with days to months of no symptoms. Also, each episode of Abdominal Pain is very similar.

What are the causes for abdominal migraine?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes abdominal migraines. It could share some of the same risk factors as migraine headaches.

One of the theories is that abdominal migraines stem from a problem in the connection between the brain and GI tract. One very small study also found a link between this condition and slower movement of digested food through the intestines.

Abdominal migraines are more common in children who have close relatives with migraine headaches. One study found that more than 90 percent of kids with this condition had a parent or sibling with migraines.

More girls than boys get abdominal migraines.

Certain factors seem to trigger abdominal migraines, including stress and excitement. Emotional changes might lead to the release of chemicals that set off migraine symptoms.

Other possible triggers include:

  • nitrates and other chemicals in processed meats, chocolate, and other foods
  • swallowing excessive amounts of air
  • exhaustion
  • motion sickness

What are the treatments for abdominal migraine?

The treatment of abdominal migraine has two components - to reduce symptoms of an acute attack and to prevent or lessen the severity of future episodes. Research to date has not provided sufficient data to firmly establish the role of any particular medication in either treating symptoms or preventing future episodes of abdominal migraine. Still, many patients respond to anti-migraine medications and other medications.

What are the risk factors for abdominal migraine?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes abdominal migraines. It could share some of the same risk factors as migraine headaches.

One of the theories is that abdominal migraines stem from a problem in the connection between the brain and GI tract. One very small study also found a link between this condition and slower movement of digested food through the intestines.

Abdominal migraines are more common in children who have close relatives with migraine headaches. One study found that more than 90 percent of kids with this condition had a parent or sibling with migraines.

More girls than boys get abdominal migraines.

Certain factors seem to trigger abdominal migraines, including stress and excitement. Emotional changes might lead to the release of chemicals that set off migraine symptoms.

Other possible triggers include:

  • nitrates and other chemicals in processed meats, chocolate, and other foods
  • swallowing excessive amounts of air
  • exhaustion
  • motion sickness

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