Helping children with migraine

Children can have migraine. Their attacks may look different from adult attacks, and they may not have the words to describe what is happening.

How migraine can look in children

Children may have moderate-to-severe head pain, but it is often two-sided or felt above the eyes rather than the classic adult one-sided throbbing story. They may have nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, dizziness, blurry vision, trouble focusing, abdominal pain, irritability, or missed school and activities. Attacks may be shorter than adult attacks.

When to seek care

Talk with a pediatric clinician if headaches are recurrent, disabling, causing missed school or activities, associated with vomiting, or hard to explain. Seek prompt evaluation for a child under 3 with headaches; a new severe headache type; headache with weakness, walking changes, swallowing changes, vision changes, confusion, seizure, fever with stiff neck, or head injury; or symptoms that are different from the child's usual pattern.

Helping during an attack

Keep the response calm and simple. Move the child to a quiet, dark room. Offer fluids if tolerated. Follow the medication plan from the child's clinician. Avoid giving adult migraine medicine, aspirin, extra doses, or combination products unless the clinician specifically advised them. Mayo Clinic lists children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen as safer alternatives to aspirin for fever or pain, and notes that prescribed triptans can be used safely in children older than 6 years when appropriate.

School support

Tell teachers, school nurses, coaches, and caregivers what migraine looks like for the child. A school plan can include permission to rest in a quiet low-light space, access to water and snacks, medication rules, reduced screen exposure during attacks, make-up work procedures, and a contact plan.

Missed classes, falling grades, withdrawal from sports, or behavior changes can be signs the child is struggling. Ask directly and without blame.

Prevention basics for children

Many children benefit from regular sleep, meals, hydration, exercise, and stress support. Some children need acute medications such as NSAIDs or prescription triptans; children with frequent attacks may need preventive treatment or supplements such as magnesium or riboflavin under clinician guidance.

Sources

• American Migraine Foundation: Migraine in children
• American Migraine Foundation: Pediatric migraine
• Mayo Clinic: Headaches in children diagnosis and treatment
• American Academy of Neurology: Acute treatment of migraine in children and adolescents
• NHS: Migraine
• Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes