Migraines in children factsheet

Introduction

A migraine is a brain condition that can cause:

moderate to severe throbbing headache
nausea or vomiting
dizziness
sensitivity to light, sound, or smell.

Migraines are different to regular headaches.

The condition is called a migraine. The symptoms are called a migraine attack.

Attacks may happen rarely or several times a week.

Migraines are not life-threatening, but they are painful and can affect your child’s daily life.

Signs and symptoms

Migraine symptoms can vary by age:

young children may go pale, feel sick or vomit
older children and teens usually have a headache as the main symptom.

A migraine headache can feel:

dull, throbbing, or very painful
on one or both sides of the head
worse with movement or light.

Other symptoms may include:

tiredness, loss of appetite
stomach pain or vomiting
dizziness or confusion
sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
changes in vision or speech
tingling or weakness.

Rare types of migraine may cause fainting, weakness or confusion.

These symptoms can also be signs of a serious condition like a stroke. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance immediately if your child has these symptoms.

Migraine warning signs

Some children get early signs called a “prodrome” before a migraine starts. These can include:

yawning
feeling tired or sick
sensitivity to light or sound.

Some get visual or sensory changes called an “aura”, like:

seeing flashing lights or zig-zag lines
tingling in the face or lips
brief loss of vision.

After the migraine, your child may:

feel tired
have trouble focusing
feel stiff in the neck.

Causes of migraines

The cause of migraines isn’t fully known, but they often run in families.

Common triggers include:

skipping meals or not drinking enough water
stress, tiredness or lack of sleep
bright lights or loud noises
illness
temperature changes
some medicines
periods or menstruation
caffeine, alcohol or second-hand smoke
tight muscles or relaxing after stress
rarely, certain foods like chocolate, cheese, nuts or processed meat.
tight muscles
rarely, some foods like chocolate, cheese, nuts or processed meat.

Diagnosis

There is no test to diagnose migraines.

Your child’s doctor will:

ask about their symptoms and medical history
do a physical check-up
suggest tests if needed to rule out other causes.

You may be asked to keep a headache diary to help find patterns and track treatment.

Treatment

Migraines can’t be cured, but symptoms can be managed.

Your child’s doctor may also suggest medicine to prevent frequent attacks.

During a migraine, help your child by:

giving over-the-counter pain medicine early
letting them rest in a quiet, dark room
offering water or a light snack
using a cold cloth on the head or a warm pack on the neck
using gentle massage or stretching on the head and neck muscles
giving anti-nausea medicine if prescribed.

Do not give aspirin to children.

Do not use pain medicine more than 2 days a week without medical advice.

If your child gets regular migraines, speak with your doctor to plan the best care and treatment.

Management

Preventing migraines

To help reduce migraine attacks, help your child to:

avoid known triggers
keep a routine for sleep, meals, and activity
do 15–60 minutes of cardio exercise daily
manage stress with mindfulness, yoga or meditation
limit screen time
drink enough water and eat regularly.

Speak to your child’s teachers for support at school.

Regular eye checks can help, as vision issues may cause headaches.

Movement and migraines

Children may avoid activity when they have migraines. But regular movement can help improve:

strength and fitness
energy and mood
sleep and stress levels.

Movement and physical activity can also release hormones called endorphins. Endorphins can help to relieve pain and stress.

Some children may find that their migraines can get worse if they stop moving and engaging in everyday activities.

If your child has had a long break from activity due to migraines, they should:

start slowly and gently
take regular, short breaks
increase activity slowly as they start to feel better.

If tight muscles, jaw pain or posture are causing migraines, a physiotherapist may help with exercises and movement.

Stress, anxiety and migraines

Ongoing migraines can cause stress for your child and family. Stress can also make migraines worse.

Daily relaxation strategies can help, such as:

guided imagery
meditation
relaxing music
distraction
deep breathing.

Talk to your doctor about helpful videos or apps.

A psychologist may also support your child with:

managing stress and anxiety
improving sleep
coping with pain.

They can also guide you on supporting your child.

Sleep and migraines

Good sleep helps manage migraines. A healthy sleep routine includes:

going to bed and waking up at the same time each day
avoiding daytime naps
only using the bed for sleep
avoiding screens one hour before bed.

School and migraines

It is important that your child continues to go to school, even with persistent migraines. School can be a good distraction and provide social support.

Work with the school on ways to manage migraines, such as rest breaks, identifying triggers and reducing stress.

When to seek help

See your local doctor if your child:

is under 5 years old and has migraines
is walking differently, falling over often, or seems weaker
complains of dizziness, numbness, or starts dropping things
shows changes in behaviour or is losing daily skills
has migraines that:
- are getting worse or more frequent
- last longer than two days
- happen more than once a week
- occur early in the morning, with or without vomiting
- wake them from sleep or stop them from falling asleep
- are constant and daily
- don’t improve with over-the-counter medicine
- cause them to miss school, activities, or impact daily life.

Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department if your child also has:

stiff neck, vomiting or high fever
confusion, speech trouble, weakness or balance issues
a head injury.