Migraines are more common in kids and teens than you may think. In fact, about 10 percent of school-age children and up to 28 percent of teenagers experience them. Migraines have a massive genetic component. If one parent struggles with migraines, their child has about a 50% chance of developing them too; if both parents are affected, that likelihood jumps to nearly 75%.
At Rise & Shine Pediatrics in South Plainfield, New Jersey, Dr. Kalpana Kumari frequently treats young patients who struggle with these debilitating headaches.
Here’s what she wants parents to know.
Migraines in children don’t always look like the classic "one-sided" head pain adults have. In younger children, a migraine might involve pain all over the head or even in the abdomen. This is known as an abdominal migraine, where the child experiences stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting rather than a headache.
By adolescence, symptoms often change to traditional adult patterns, including sensitivity to light and sound, or the perception of "auras," such as flashing lights. If your teen is frequently missing school or retreating to a dark room, it’s not just a typical headache. It’s a neurological event that requires a management plan.
At whatever age, the first step is to identify triggers. For many teens, lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, stress, dehydration, and skipping meals are major contributors.
We suggest keeping a headache diary that includes what your child ate, how much they slept, and any environmental factors, such as bright lights or strong smells, experienced before the onset. Sometimes, simple changes, like increasing water intake and setting a consistent bedtime, significantly reduce the frequency of attacks.
Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen can help if taken early. We also strategize lifestyle modifications and, in some cases, prescription medications.
However, we want to avoid the rebound effect, where using pain medicine too often actually makes the headaches more frequent.
Seek medical attention if your child's headaches are increasing in frequency, happen after a head injury, or are accompanied by a fever and stiff neck.
We'll perform a thorough neurological exam and discuss the best course of action tailored to your child's age and health history.
If your child is suffering from frequent headaches, don’t wait for them to outgrow them. Call the office at 908-205-0632, or request an appointment online. We also offer telemedicine visits.
