Even small children can suffer from migraines. However, the disease often manifests itself differently in them than in adults. “The little ones are not yet able to precisely locate and describe pain. Many complain not of a headache but of a stomach ache,” says Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel, chief physician at the Kiel Pain Clinic, in the pharmacy magazine “Baby und Familie”. “They don’t complain about light or noise, which is typical for adults, but simply withdraw.” Therefore, it often takes a long time before a migraine diagnosis is made in children.

Prevent a migraine attack

Experts advise affected parents and children to first pay attention to their behavior. “Medicines are very rarely used in children, and when they are, for example, for severe headaches or severe nausea,” says Göbel. “Good therapy does not start with the acute attack, but beforehand, and with the aim of, at best, preventing it from occurring at all.” A mental and physical balance is particularly important for children: “That there are fixed daily routines with regulated meals, and that phases of stress, for example in daycare, are also followed by phases of relaxation,” says the expert. He strongly emphasizes the importance of regular meals, as fluctuating blood sugar levels often trigger migraine attacks in children.

Parents should keep a migraine diary

It is crucial to know what causes the child's problems, i.e. what triggers the migraine. “The best thing for parents to do is keep a diary. They record how the days are organized, what the child does and when and when he or she complains about which problems,” explains Göbel. This is also the basis for making the diagnosis.

The pharmacy magazine “Baby and Family” 1/2020 is currently available in most pharmacies.

Press contact:

Katharina Neff-Neudert
Tel. 089/744 33 360
Fax 089/744 33 459
E-Mail: press@wortundbildverlag.de
www.wortbildbilverlag.de

 

[youtube https://youtu.be/NnYYcp4cPOQ w=500&h=400]