Migraines: How to Care for Your Child

A migraine is a type of headache. Migraines usually happen with other symptoms, such as feeling sick to the stomach or feeling worse from light, noise, or smells. Certain things can trigger (set off) a migraine headache, such as stress, bright light, menstrual periods, not getting enough sleep, and skipping meals. For some people, some foods also can bring on a migraine.

Your child was cared for in the hospital and is now ready to go home. Follow these instructions to care for your child.

• If prescribed, give any daily preventive medicines as recommended by the health care provider.

• As soon as your child begins to feel migraine symptoms:

  • Give your child any headache medicines that your health care provider recommends.

  • Have your child lie down in a quiet, dark room with a cool cloth on the forehead.

  • Give your child plenty of water to drink.

  • As long as your health care provider says it's OK, give your child acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®, Panadol®, or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Give exactly as directed. Don't use these medicines for more than 2 days in a week without talking to your health care provider first.

• Don't give your child or teen aspirin, because it has been linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

• Keep a headache diary. Be sure to include:

  • when the headaches happen

  • how long the headaches last

  • what might have triggered the headache 

• Help your child identify what triggers his or her headaches. Common food triggers include high-caffeine energy drinks, certain cheeses, aspartame (an artificial sweetener), chocolate, lunchmeats, hot dogs, MSG (a food additive), and alcohol.

• Depending on your child's triggers, it can help to prevent future headaches for your child to:

  • Avoid foods or smells that trigger headaches.

  • Get plenty of sleep and stick to a regular sleep schedule.

  • Eat regularly scheduled meals and snacks.

  • Drink plenty of liquids, especially when exercising or in hot weather.

  • Find ways to lower stress, like meditation or yoga.

  • Get plenty of physical activity.

  • Avoid taking medicines that aren't needed.

  • Not drink caffeine.

  • Not smoke or be around smoke.

  • Wear sunglasses outside if bright sunlight is a trigger.

  • Use natural light as much as possible when indoors if fluorescent lights are a trigger.

• Make any appointments with specialists as recommended by the health care provider.

Your child:

• has a headache that doesn't get better after following the health care provider's instructions 

• has headaches that are getting worse

• has headaches that happen more often

• develops new symptoms during headaches such as a fever or throwing up

• throws up when having a headache

• has headaches in the morning or that wake your child up

• has a headache along with changes in mood or feeling anxious

• can't go to school or do other activities because of the headache

Your child:

• has a fever and stiff neck

• has blurry or double vision

• seems confused or isn't walking or talking normally

• is hard to wake up

What causes migraines? The exact cause of migraines isn't known. Scientists think that they happen because some neurons (nerves in the brain) stop working properly and send the wrong signals. This may affect the nerve system that regulates pain.

Migraines can run in families. Kids and teens with migraines often have family members who get migraines.

What is an aura? An aura is a change in sensation or vision that some people have just before a migraine. There are different kinds of auras, such as having blurry vision, seeing flashing lights, or noticing blind spots.