Migraine Equivalents in Children – Abdominal Migraine

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.

Many children outgrow abdominal migraines by adolescence, but some develop regular migraines later in life.

See how your child can benefit from our free Migraine Diary. Download it here

Please contact the MAI for a children’s migraine diary by phone:
01 906 1012.