Migraine in

Children and

Teenagers

Call Our Support Line

Children and Teenagers

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus. Aenean leo ligula, porttitor eu, consequat vitae, eleifend ac, enim. Aliquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a, tellus. Phasellus viverra nulla ut metus varius laoreet. Quisque rutrum. Aenean imperdiet. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue. Curabitur ullamcorper ultricies nisi. Nam eget dui. Etiam rhoncus. Maecenas tempus, tellus eget condimentum rhoncus, sem quam semper libero, sit amet adipiscing sem neque sed ipsum. Nam quam nunc, blandit vel, luctus pulvinar, hendrerit id, lorem. Maecenas nec odio et ante tincidunt tempus. Donec vitae sapien ut libero venenatis faucibus. Nullam quis ante. Etiam sit amet orci eget eros faucibus tincidunt. Duis leo. Sed fringilla mauris sit amet nibh. Donec sodales sagittis magna. Sed consequat, leo eget bibendu

Diagnosis in
Children
Migraine
Triggers
Prevention
and Management
Headache in
Children
Migraine at
School
Migraine and
State Exams

Diagnosing Migraine in Children

Headache is a cause for concern, and should be brought to the attention of a medical practitioner in order to eliminate other more serious conditions. It is important to remember that the majority of recurrent headaches in childhood are either tension type headaches or migraine.A diagnosis of migraine in a child is made if headaches are recurrent and if two of the following symptoms are present:

  • pain, usually on one side of the head, but sometimes on both sides
  • vomiting or nausea
  • vision disturbances or ‘strange sensations’
  • history of migraine in close family members (parents or siblings)

Migraine Equivalents in Children

Children can also present with a group of symptoms which do not include a headache at all. Instead, symptoms such as stomachache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting may be the major part of a child’s attack, making migraine harder to recognise in children. This is known as Abdominal Migraine and typically, it evolves in more typical migraine after puberty. The abdominal pain can be dull, sore or intense and is usually located around the middle of the abdomen around the navel. Sometimes, vertigo and head-tilt can be part of a childhood migraine attack. Investigation is frequently required to rule out other causes of migraine-like symptoms in children.
Find out More

The Migraine Association of Ireland

is a Non-Profit

Donate Today

Migraine Triggers in Children

Trigger factors commonly identified in children can include:

  • Certain foods, such as cheese, citrus fruits, chocolate, fizzy drinks or preserved meats.
  • Missed meals. In some cases a light snack before any extra activity could be all that is needed to prevent a migraine developing as it is important to maintain a constant blood sugar level.
  • Lack of sleep and/or oversleeping. It is important to maintain regular bedtime and getting up times.
  • Anxiety or stress factors which may include schoolwork, school performances and difficulties in relationships with parents, siblings and/or friends.
  • Excessive physical exercise.
  • Long hours playing video games or watching TV.
  • Flickering lights such as fluorescent tube lighting, TV flicker or flashing images.

In many instances a combination of these factors may start a migraine. The use of a diary documenting all activities, food and drink taken in the 24 hour period prior to the onset of a migraine may help in the identification of trigger factors. Maintaining a diary for up to three months can help to establish patterns.

Please contact the MAI for a children’s migraine diary: 01-8941280/ 1850-200-378. Email info@migraine.ie

Email Us

Migraine Prevention and

Management in Children

Keeping a headache diary accurately records the frequency, severity and duration of attacks and can help to identify triggers which may help to prevent future migraine attacks. It also monitors the effectiveness of treatments. The MAI provides migraine diaries for both adults and children. Click here to download:If the symptoms are noticed early a child can often sleep off the pain of migraine. Non-pharmacological management techniques include relaxation exercises, stress management, biofeedback and behavioural therapies. These therapies can greatly reduce the frequency of attacks.If your child is about to have an attack, a mild pain-killing drug such as paracetamol should be given (in soluble form as this is more quickly absorbed). Aspirin should be avoided due to its association with a rare condition called Reye’s Disease. Nausea or vomiting can be countered with an anti-nausea drug, which can be purchased over the counter and should be taken about 15 minutes before the painkiller.Preventative medical therapy is rarely recommended for children. It is generally preferable for a child to miss a few days of school per term due to migraine, rather than give preventative medication. Regular preventative therapy may only be justified (over a short two-three month period) if the migraine attack frequency is distressing. Following advice from a GP on the positive and negative aspects of treatment options, parents can decide on the best management solutions for their child.Contact us for information leaflets for parents and teachers: 01-894 1280/ 1850-200-378.
Find out More

Headache in Children

Migraine in Children vs AdultsThere are no hard-fast rules, but the following differences would not be atypical:

  • Attacks usually shorter in children (usually less than 24 hours)
  • Headache not as severe, or in some children not present at all
  • Headache more likely to be on both sides of head in children
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms are usually more prominent in children
  • Equally prominent in boys before puberty. Thereafter, three times more common in girls

Why Take Headache in Children Seriously?

  • The child’s school performance may decline
  • Headaches can be debilitating, affecting the child’s ability to participate in activities and social events
  • Relationships with friends and other family members can be affected
  • Migraine may be indicative of other trouble in the child’s life such as lack of sleep, poor diet, stress, depression, or other illness

Learning to control the condition from an early age can minimise the cost and disability involved.

Email Us

Migraine at School

The school principal, class teacher and/or school nurse should be informed of a child’s susceptibility to migraine.This will ensure that proper action is taken in the event of an attack i.e. that a child is allowed to lie down in a darkened room and take mild soluble pain killing drugs if necessary.It will also minimize disruption to a child’s school routine.Most schools co-operate very well with whatever treatment has been suggested to parents. Teachers/nurses may prefer to ‘hold’ younger children’s medication and give it on request.It may be appropriate for older children to carry their own medication and take an emergency supply of appropriate tablets when necessary.Every effort should be made to retain a normal routine and, where possible, avoid having to send the child home from school.The MAI provides information leaflets for parents, teachers and students.
Find out More

Migraine is a

Complex

Neurological

Disorder

That Effects Different Areas of The Brain

To find out more
Buy Our Book

Migraine and State Examinations

Under certain circumstances special arrangements can be made to facilitate a student with migraine when taking state examinations. Some of these arrangements can be made by the school while for others it is necessary for the school to contact the Reasonable Accommodations Section of the State Examinations Commission.

Reasonable Accommodations

for Leaving Certificate

The closing date for the Reasonable Accommodations for the 2019 State Exams has not been announced yet. We will update the website as soon as they are. For now, please see the 2018 guides and forms below.The SEC has issued two guides to make people aware of the changes that have been made to the Reasonable Accommodations application for the 2018 exams. They can be found on the SEC website or by clicking below; – Please be aware that the guides below take a few moments to load.Student’s Guide to Reasonable AccommodationInstructions for SchoolsThe following are the application forms –Late Application for Reasonable Accommodations for the 2018 Junior CertLate Application for Reasonable Accommodations for the 2018 Leaving CertFor more information see www.examinations.ieFor all queries on the 2019 examinations please contact the State Examinations Commission directly:

Email: race@examinations.ie
Phone: 090 644 2782
Fax: 090 644 2744

Email Us

Migraine and State Exams

Under certain circumstances special arrangements can be made to facilitate a student with migraine when taking state examinations. Some of these arrangements can be made by the school while for others it is necessary for the school to contact the Reasonable Accommodations Section of the State Examinations Commission.

State Examinations Commission (SEC)

The School can apply on behalf of the candidate using the form issued by the SEC to request a special centre within the school for the candidate to sit the examination on their own. The school must have a letter from the student’s GP/consultant before approaching the State Examinations Commission.

The school must apply in advance. The closing date for the 2019 examinations have not yet been announced. Decisions are made on a case by case basis.

If granted a special centre, it does not automatically mean that the candidate will be sitting in an examination centre on their own. In some circumstances it may be appropriate for school authorities to assign a small number of candidates (also being accommodated under the Reasonable Accommodations Scheme) to one special centre under the control of one superintendent.

A candidate may apply to have a tape recorder to record answers if they are unable to write.

In the event that a candidate cannot sit the examination at the scheduled time the candidate can sit later on that date provided they are supervised by a member of the School Authority, have had no contact with other candidates or anyone who may have had sight of the question paper, or knowledge of its contents.  Any change to the scheduled start of an examination must have prior approval from the State Examinations Commission. Candidates may not, however, take an examination on a later date under any circumstances.

Should the student be alright on the day and have no need to avail of the special centre the Reasonable Accommodations Office should be notified.  This can be done on the day and an email will suffice.

Contact details for the Reasonable Accommodations Office:

Email: race@examinations.ie
Phone: 090 644 2782
Fax: 090 644 2744

 

Find out More

Accommodations that can be granted by School

There are certain arrangements that the school can make without applying to the State Examinations Commission. The student should provide a letter from their GP/neurologist to the school stating that they suffer from migraine. The school may then authorize the following:

  • Granting breaks or rest periods in each examination session that are warranted by the physical or medical condition of the candidate. Under this type of arrangement the time taken for rest or as a break may be compensated for at the close of each examination period to a maximum of 20 minutes.
  • Taking of medicine, food or drinks into the examination centre where this is required for medical reasons.
  • Allowing the candidate to move within the centre.
  • Use of a special desk or chair used in the classroom.
  • Use of low vision aids used normally in the classroom.
  • Ensuring that a candidate with a hearing impairment is positioned close to the superintendent.

For more information on Exams and Beyond please click here

Exams and Beyond

Migraine

Effects 10 – 15%

of the Population

Join our Community

Become a Member