Migraine usually comes at intervals with complete freedom between attacks. Migraine is now much better understood, and considered to be a disorder involving brain areas involved in the processing and control of pain, other sensory input, and the blood vessels of the head. It is now considered that nerves in the head cause the well-recognised blood vessel changes. The headache in childhood may also be severe and the abdominal symptoms which include sickness, vomiting and stomach aches are often pronounced.
Some children have prominent associated dizziness.
The diagnosis of migraine in adults and children should be made by a medical practitioner. Most patients with migraine will have a family history of the problem. Precipitants can be stress, fatigue, exertion, excitement, change of sleep pattern, dietary and hormone factors and missing meals. It is generally agreed that migraine has an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. The Trust is a National Registered Charity No. 1081300.