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What Is The Treatment For Migraine In Children?
Question: Hi, My 8 year old gets migraine headaches , she used to get them maybe twice a year, then once a quarter and all of a sudden she has had 3 since New Years. Not all are debilitating, she loves to play and will work through it, take medicine, close her eyes and be better. Medicine over the counter always works and so does eating. She is small in size, very little, if any, body fat. I am hoping that this is dehydration and not anything more than that. but I am noticing a trend and its been over a 3 year period. Could this be dehydration and I need to make sure my daughter always has food and water with her? BY the way she has 20 / 20 eye site. I am very worried.
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Brief Answer:
Growth monitoring and triggers avoidance suffice
Detailed Answer:
Good day Miss XXXX!
Thank you for asking. My name is Dr S Khan and i would like to help you with the issue of your daughter headaches. Miss XXXXXXX i want you to know that age of 8 is too young to have migraines of that frequency. Now the issue of small for gestation and age gap between bone age and actual one all points to growth issues. SO first of all the issue of this developmental delay which needs a good dietitian and a complete dietary plan to help this resolve. Once the growth of the kid is maintained and diet is modified with avoidance of triggers i am going to mention i am sure the issue of migraines will resolve.
Caffeine overuse or caffeine withdrawal
Chocolate
Aspartame - eg, NutraSweet and Equal
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) - May be found in Asian food, canned soup, frozen or processed foods, and the seasoning product Accent
Fruits - Citrus fruits, bananas, avocados, and dried fruit
Nuts - Peanuts, soy nuts, and soy sauce
Tyramine, a biogenic amine that accumulates in food as it ages, may provoke migraine. Sources include the following:
Dairy - Aged cheese
Meat - Bacon, sausage, luncheon meat, deli meat, pepperoni, and smoked or cured meat
Pickled foods
Heavily yeasted breads - Eg, sourdough
Vinegars - Especially wine vinegar
Some types of beans
If the issue of migraines still persist after these measure i would recommend visit to a paediatric neurologist to sort out etiology for that.
You have nothing to worry about. Take some very good care of your kid and hope for the best. Kindly close the discussion and rate the aanswer as per your experience.
regards
Dr S Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
you have definitely hit a strong point, my daughter has a terrible diet, She doesn't drink caffeine at all. No veggies or fruit, I cant seem to get her to eat anything but hamburgers, chicken fingers, pork chops, (very rarely she eats those), donuts... few snacks. She will drink only water or milk. I am embarrassed by this but at the same time, I am a single mom with two kids and I just want her to eat. She will eat XXXXXXX sandwiches. Based on this are you still at the same conclusion. She does have chocolate but not much.
Thanks!
Brief Answer:
Same conclusion and plan
Detailed Answer:
Hello again Miss XXXX!
I will repeat as i mentioned earlier. Your kid first needs to be nurtured with good nutrition, Its a mother challenge and you have to beat it. Rest the triggers are universal ones if its migraines they will resolve by avoiding those. And yes i am still on the same conclusion. Seek Nutritionist and devise a plan for the kid. there is always a way. You will find one I am sure.
God Luck. Kindly close the discussion please if the questions are no more to ask.
Regards
S Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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