Does your child often get stomach aches? It could be an abdominal migraine!

Does your little one often say, “Mommy, my stomach hurts”? Or does he suffer from stomach aches that start suddenly and go away after a while? Sometimes we think of these as just a normal stomach ache, but this could be something a little different. That’s what we’re going to talk about today.

What is an Abdominal Migraine? Let's understand exactly!

Simply put, this abdominal migraine is a type of migraine. But instead of a headache, it is mainly felt as a pain in the abdomen. This abdominal pain can usually range from moderate to severe . In fact, it can affect the child to the point where he or she cannot even perform daily activities.

This pain can last from one hour to 72 hours (3 days) at a time. But it usually lasts about 17 hours. Some children may also have a traditional migraine headache at the same time as this stomach ache. This is also important to keep in mind.

Researchers say there is a link between migraines and migraine headaches. They believe that the triggers, symptoms, and treatments for both conditions are similar. They also believe that the underlying cause of both conditions may be the same. For example, 24% of people with migraine headaches also experience migraines at some point in their lives. This compares to about 10% of the general population.

Who is most affected by this situation? Is your child among them?

Stomach migraines are most common in children under the age of 10. However, adults can also develop them, and that's something to keep in mind.

The disease usually begins around the age of 7. Also, the condition is slightly more common among girls than boys.

What are the risk factors? Who is most susceptible?

If someone in your family, such as your child's mother, father, or siblings, has migraines, your child is at higher risk of developing migraines. More than 65% of children with migraines have a first-degree relative who has migraines.

Not only that, children with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression are also at higher risk of developing both stomach and head migraines. Therefore, we need to be concerned about the child's mental health as well.

How common are stomach migraines? Is this really common?

It is estimated that between 1% and 4% of school-age children have this stomach bug. However, researchers believe that the number may be higher. This is because the condition is underdiagnosed and therefore underreported.

Among adults, stomach migraines are extremely rare.

What are the symptoms? How do you recognize it?

The main symptom of this stomach migraine is abdominal pain . This pain usually occurs in the middle of the stomach, around the navel. Sometimes it can feel like a dull ache, or it can come as a sharp pain. The level of pain can be moderate or severe.

The peculiarity of this painful condition is that it starts suddenly and goes away almost as quickly. As mentioned earlier, it can last from one hour to 72 hours.

In addition to these main symptoms, you or your child may also experience symptoms like:

• Pallor .
• Anorexia , which means loss of appetite .
• Nausea .
• Vomiting .
• Getting a headache .

In addition to this, some people may also experience other symptoms that are seen during migraines, such as sensitivity to bright light (photophobia) and sensitivity to loud noise (phonophobia) .

The time between episodes of this stomach ache can range from a few weeks to a few months. Usually, there are no symptoms during the non-stomach ache period.

Why do these stomach aches occur? What are the causes?

Researchers still don't know exactly what causes stomach migraines, but they have a few hypotheses.

The main hypothesis is that the nervous system of people with migraines is unnecessarily sensitive. In particular, the primary sensory and central spinal neurons in this system are important here. Researchers believe that certain genetic factors, psychological and social factors, and environmental factors may influence this hypersensitivity.

When someone is exposed to a trigger, such as motion sickness or stress, their body releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters in an abnormal manner. Of these, serotonin is thought to be particularly involved in stomach pain.

What are the triggers that increase or worsen this condition?

Certain situations and things can cause these stomach migraines to increase, meaning they can start a new one or worsen an existing one. These can vary from person to person.

Here are some common triggers that affect many people:

• Stress : Stress caused by things like schoolwork and family problems .
• Inadequate sleep and irregular sleep patterns.
• Prolonged fasting.
• Dehydration.
• Travel and Motion Sickness.
• Exercise.
• Foods high in amines: Citrus fruits like oranges and limes, chocolate, cheese, salami, and ham.
• Foods containing artificial flavors , colors, and monosodium glutamate ( MSG ).
• Bright, flashing lights.
• Consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine (that is, the caffeine found in coffee, tea, and some soft drinks)

Imagine, a child gets a stomachache when they return from a vacation trip, or when an exam approaches. These are things like `Triggers`.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

It's actually a little difficult to diagnose this stomach migraine, because there are many other conditions and causes that can cause stomach pain.

Also, it can be difficult for young children to accurately describe their pain and tell the difference between a normal stomach ache and this.

There are no specific lab tests or imaging tests that can diagnose this type of stomach migraine. Therefore, doctors rely primarily on a good understanding of the child's symptoms and medical history.

The doctor should also make sure that there are no other health conditions that cause similar symptoms. For example:

• Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
• Stomach Ulcers
• Crohn's Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Bladder or kidney related conditions.

The doctor who examines your child will do the following:

• The medical history of the child and family is carefully studied.
• A physical examination is performed.
• Tests such as an abdominal ultrasound or X-ray may be ordered to rule out other medical conditions.

What are the treatments for this? How do you manage it?

There is no specific cure for this stomach ache yet. Therefore, the main focus of treatment is to prevent this condition from occurring. Also, there are ways to treat this stomach ache once it starts.

How do you prevent this from happening? (Prevention)

To prevent these stomach aches, it is important to understand what triggers your child has. One of the best ways to do this is to keep a Symptom Journal about your child's symptoms, what they eat, and what they experience. This can be a great way to identify triggers.

Generally, you can do the following as preventative measures:

• Managing Stress: Practice healthy coping strategies to help manage stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also very helpful in managing stress.
• Be careful when traveling: It is important to avoid motion sickness. When traveling long distances, you can stop frequently and limit your travel to high altitudes.
• Get good sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for people with migraines. Maintaining a regular bedtime and practicing good sleep hygiene can help prevent sleep disruption. This can also help reduce the severity of the pain.
• Avoiding things that are hard on the eyes: Bright, flashing lights can aggravate this condition, so stay away from them as much as possible.
• Avoiding Food Triggers: Identify foods that seem to aggravate your child's symptoms and try to eliminate them from your child's diet. Also, minimize foods containing MSG (Ajinomoto) and artificial flavors and colors .

Preventative Medications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not yet have any medications specifically approved for the treatment of migraine headaches. However, some doctors may prescribe certain medications “off-label,” meaning that they are approved for other conditions. Many medications that help prevent migraine headaches also help prevent migraine headaches.

Research has shown that these medications can help prevent migraines:

• Cyproheptadine
• Pizotifen `(Pizotifen)`
• Propranolol `(Propranolol)`
• Flunarizine `(Flunarizine)`

These should only be taken on medical advice.

What do you do when things get tough? (Episode Treatment)

When your child has a migraine, have them rest in a dark, quiet place. Placing a wet cloth or ice pack on their forehead can also help relieve symptoms.

Additionally, your child's doctor may recommend or prescribe the following medications for times of difficulty:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): For example , ibuprofen or aspirin . (Medical advice is essential when giving aspirin to children.)
• Antinausea Medications .
• Triptans (Serotonin Receptor Agonists) .

What is the future course of this condition? (Prognosis)

The good news is that children with migraines tend to outgrow their migraines around puberty. Approximately 60% of children will have completely eliminated the problem by the late teenage years.

However, about 70% of children who have had migraines will develop migraine headaches later in life, either in adolescence or adulthood.

If my child is having this kind of difficulty, how can I help?

This stomach ache can be emotionally distressing for the child as well as for you. It can affect the child's social life and schoolwork. Therefore, the most important thing is that you believe in your child and advocate for their health.

Talk openly with your child's doctor about his or her symptoms. Tell them if anyone in your family has migraines. Discuss with your doctor whether your child's stomach pain could be caused by a migraine.

It will take some time, but try to find out what ``Triggers`` are making your child more difficult. If possible, keep your child away from them. Then you can prevent similar difficulties from occurring in the future.

When should you see a doctor?

If your child vomits repeatedly due to this stomach ache, be sure to see a doctor. In that case, your child may need to be hospitalized to control the vomiting and prevent or treat dehydration caused by excessive loss of body water.

Seeing a child in pain is very distressing. The best thing you can do for them is to advocate for them, talk to their doctor, and find ways to manage their stomach migraines. Since there can be specific triggers, keeping a journal of your child's activities, situations, and symptoms can help you identify triggers over time.

Finally, remember this (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so let's remind you of a few things we talked about today that we think are important to you:

• Abdominal migraine is a real condition. It's not just a stomach ache.
• This is most commonly seen among young children.
• The risk is higher if someone in the family has migraines.
• It is very important to recognize the symptoms and seek medical advice.
• Identifying triggers and staying away from them will go a long way in controlling this condition.
• Don't worry, this condition will subside for most children as they get older.
• If your child has something like this, your support, understanding, and care are very valuable to them.

We hope this information is helpful to you. If you or your child has any of these symptoms, please consult a doctor for advice.