Increasingly, though, they're turning to a suite of new migraine drugs. They're meant for adults, but some doctors have begun prescribing child-size doses, the best news yet for these families. But doctors aren't sure if perceived increases reflect higher prevalence or just better awareness and diagnosis. Childhood migraines are especially tricky because the pediatric version has different symptoms though researchers aren't sure why. Headaches are shorter-lived, sometimes lasting only 30 minutes compared with up to three days for adults.
Kids often say their pain is worse in the front of the head, instead of on one side.
And children tend to have more stomach problems, such as nausea and vomiting, than adults do. To recognize those differences, doctors have proposed a children's version of the standard diagnostic criteria for migraines. All rights reserved.