Back to school time can also mean migraine time for the one in 10 children in Ireland who suffer from this complex neurological condition.
“Any sort of change in routine can trigger a migraine,” says communications officer with the Migraine Association of Ireland Jenny Costello. “The most common symptoms of an attack include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, noise, smells, and an intense throbbing headache.”
“However children can also present with symptoms that do not include headache at all,” she continued.
“Instead, stomach ache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting may be the major part of a child’s attack, making the migraine harder to recognise so a medical diagnosis is important.”
Trigger factors do not cause migraine but they can help to bring about an attack. They are highly individual and can include stress, an excess or lack of sleep, weather factors, hormonal changes, delayed or missed meals, poor posture, and flicker from televisions, computer screens, and certain types of lighting.
For more information on migraine management visit www.migraine.ie or telephone the migraine helpline at 1850 200 378.
