Symptoms of a Migraine.

In adults, migraine's throbbing head pain usually occurs on one side of the head, but in children it can affect both sides. The migraine is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound, and changes in temperament and personality. A headache's duration varies from individual to individual. But, generally, unlike an adult's migraine, which can continue up to four days, a child's migraine might be as short as one hour or may last for a day or so.

About 15% of kids experience a migraine headache with an "aura." A typical aura is blurred vision, or seeing colored or flashing lights, blind spots, or wavy lines. An aura alerts a migraine sufferer to the onset of a headache, warning the kid several minutes before the pain starts.

A small percentage of migraine sufferers also encounter temporary motor weakness: they may lose their sense of coordination, may stumble, or may have trouble expressing themselves.

What causes a migraine? For most kids, a family history. In some cases, triggers can be identified. Among the most commonly recognized ones are: good and bad stress, a change in routine or sleep pattern, bright lights or loud noises, or certain foods and beverages.

After a formal diagnosis, a doctor's goal is to help reduce or eliminate the symptoms of a migraine and prevent future attacks.