MERRY XMAS AND HO HO HOOOOOHHHHH THE PAIN !!!
As I sit here at my computer, a commercial blasting from a nearby radio reminds me the Christmas season is upon us once again. For children, it is a time of merriment, dashing through the snow, sitting on Santa's knee, parades, and a feeling of excitement at the thought of lots of gifts under their tree. Unfortunately, a large number of children will have the fun stopped in its tracks by a major league headache, known as Migraine, that can disable its victims on a whim.
Over 8 million children and adolescents suffer from Migraine headaches, resulting in over 1 million days of school absence. Prior to puberty, there are an equal number of boys and girls that will be afflicted, and after puberty it becomes more common in girls. 2.5 to 19% of all children are affected by Migraines, and it has even been found in infants.
Migraines are recurring vascular headaches that vary in severity and length, lasting as long as several hours. Most children will outgrow them by age 10, but 20 to 30% suffer from chronic headaches by the age of 15 years. If a child stops having migraines as they enter adulthood, there is a chance they will return when the child becomes middle aged.
The cause of Migraines is still unknown, but researchers have found strong evidence that they are inherited. 90% of children with migraines belong to a family that contains a history of them. 40% also have a history of motion sickness.
Migraines seem to occur when blood vessels, that are over sensitive to nerve and chemical signals such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and substance P in the brain, constrict and become narrow. In response to the constriction, the body sends a message to the brain, signalling the narrowed blood vessels to expand or dilate. The dilation thus causes the excruciating pain associated with Migraines.
Migraines are identified by at least 3 of the following symptoms:
· Abdominal pain · Nausea or vomiting · Throbbing headache · Specific location of pain · "Aura" · Relief with sleep
Not all migraines occur with head pain. Older children can have abdominal symptoms such as vomiting, stomach discomfort and dizziness without pain. Younger children tend to feel pain on both sides of their head while older children experience pain on only one side. Attacks are normally shorter in children and the most common symptoms tend to be:
· Nausea and vomiting · Diarrhea · Increased urination · Sweating · Thirst · Swelling · Tearing of the eyes
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