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It's bad enough to suffer with an aching head and light sensitivity from a typical migraine. But for children with abdominal migraines, the pain isn't in their head; it's in their belly. This unusual migraine variant usually occurs in children who have a family history of migraines. It's estimated 2 percent of children suffer from them, and this unlucky group - girls are more likely to be affected - also is more likely to get migraine headaches when its members are older.
The condition can begin suddenly and severely, lasting from an hour to 10 days. Additional symptoms can include pale skin, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache and an increased sensitivity to light. More serious cases of abdominal migraines might be an indication of cyclic vomiting syndrome, in which patients experience extreme vomiting for periods of time.
Episodes of nausea and vomiting can be triggered by several factors, including stress, infections, temperature extremes, lack of sleep, eating certain foods, alcohol and menstruation.
Changes to diet, certain medications and stress relief are considered the best treatment for the condition.