Understanding Your Child’s Migraines
What is it? Migraines are intense headaches that occur when blood vessels in the brain temporarily change, causing throbbing pain. Unlike regular headaches, migraines often come with other symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light, but they are not dangerous when no serious warning signs are present.
Common Types:
- Classic Migraine with Aura: Preceded by warning signs like flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary vision changes before the headache begins
- Common Migraine without Aura: Sudden onset of throbbing headache without warning signs, often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity
- Abdominal Migraine: Stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting that may occur instead of or alongside head pain, more common in younger children
- Tension-Type vs Migraine: Migraines cause throbbing/pounding pain (often one-sided), while tension headaches feel like a tight band around the head
When to Manage at Home
✅ You can manage your child's migraine at home when:
- The headache has a familiar pattern that you've seen before
- Your child remains alert and can communicate normally
- There is no fever, stiff neck, or confusion
- The pain responds to usual treatments within a reasonable timeframe
- Your child can still move normally without weakness
How to Treat at Home
🏠 Home remedies for migraines:
- Environmental Control: Have your child rest in a dark, quiet room with curtains closed and electronics turned off
- Cold Therapy: Apply a cold pack or cool, damp cloth to the forehead for 15-20 minutes at a time
- Rest and Positioning: Encourage lying down in a comfortable position and avoiding physical activity during the episode
- Hydration: Offer small sips of water or clear fluids, especially if nausea is present
- Trigger Avoidance: Remove or avoid known triggers like bright lights, loud sounds, or strong smells
💊 Safe Medications
- For children 6+ months: Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) - give at first sign of headache for best results
- For children 3+ months: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) - follow package dosing by weight
- Timing: Give medication at the very beginning of the headache, not after pain becomes severe
- AVOID giving pain medication more than 2-3 days per week (can cause rebound headaches), aspirin in children under 18, and combination medications without consulting your provider
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again when:
- Headaches lasting more than 6 hours without improvement
- Symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop
- Headaches occur more than once per week
- Current medications are no longer providing relief
- Your child's daily activities are significantly impacted
- You're just not sure and need reassurance
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- Migraines lasting more than 24 hours without improvement
- Headaches becoming more frequent or severe over time
- Medication overuse (using pain relievers more than 3 days per week)
- School attendance or daily functioning significantly affected
- New or different headache patterns developing
- Need for prescription migraine prevention medications
When to Go to the ER
🚨 Seek immediate emergency care for headaches with serious neurological signs:
- Sudden, severe headache ("worst headache of their life")
- Stiff neck with headache and/or fever
- Confusion, altered mental state, or difficulty staying awake
- Weakness in face, arms, or legs
- Seizures or loss of consciousness
- Persistent vomiting that prevents keeping fluids down
If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out. Need help? Reconnect with our on-demand team of medical staff available 24/7.
