Abdominal Migraine: Symptoms and Treatment

As the name suggests, abdominal migraine is a type of migraine without the characteristic symptom of a headache. This condition is usually experienced by children within the age group five to nine, but in some cases, adults too are affected by abdominal migraine. The most common symptom of this disease is abdominal pain, which explains the name of the disorder. As abdominal pain can be linked to a wide range of diseases, it is very difficult to diagnose this condition. The International Headache Society (IHS) has generated some guidelines, according to which abdominal migraine is diagnosed.

Abdominal Migraine and Migraine
Many people wonder about the link between the abdomen and a migraine. The link is that abdominal migraine affects those children who have a family history of migraine. It has also been noted that most of the children suffering from abdominal migraine develop migraines on reaching puberty. Studies have also shown that girls are more affected by abdominal migraine than boys. In fact, the most important factor in diagnosing abdominal migraine is the family history of the child. Doctors cannot rely only on the symptoms to diagnose the disease.

Symptoms of Abdominal Migraine
Unlike the typical migraine, abdominal migraine is characterized by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. In most cases, the pain is felt more in the midline of the abdomen, especially around the umbilicus. The pain may last for one to two hours and may recur several times during a timespan of one to three days. Other symptoms of abdominal migraine include sensitivity to light and sound and dizziness. Some kids may experience irritability, diarrhea, loss of appetite and headaches. The affected kid may look pale and flushed. Dark shadows may also appear around the eyes of the affected child. According to the International Headache Society (IHS), such a condition can be categorized as abdominal migraine, if it satisfies the following conditions.

• The child should have gone through a minimum of five attacks, which fulfills the conditions given in criteria B to D.
• Criteria B - One whole episode should last for one to three days with recurring attacks of abdominal pain. Treatment taken or not taken is not a factor.
• Criteria C - Abdominal pain should have the following features: It should be located along the midline, adjacent to the navel or poorly localized. It can be defined as a dull or sore quality and moderate to severe in intensity.
• Criteria D - The pain should be accompanied with at least two of the following symptoms - anorexia, nausea, vomiting and pallor.
• As per criteria E, the symptoms should not be attributed to any other disorder. It is also noted that the results of physical examination and medical history of the child should be taken into consideration, in order to rule out the possibility of gastrointestinal or renal disease. Otherwise, appropriate investigations should be conducted to rule out such possibilities.

Abdominal Migraine - Treatment
Abdominal migraine was recognized as a migraine variant during the late 1990s. Besides that, this condition is less common as compared to the other forms. Hence, there is no definite pattern of treatment for this disorder. At present, this condition is treated on the same lines as that of migraines. Medications for migraines are administered for kids affected by abdominal migraines, but only after considering the age group of the patient. Abdominal migraine treatment includes pain killers, anti-nausea drugs and sedatives. The most important factor, which helps to relieve the symptoms is rest. The child must be allowed to rest and sleep in a quiet, dark room.

As in the case of migraines, abdominal migraine in children can also be prevented by avoiding some food items which can trigger the symptoms. Stress is also considered as a causal agent of abdominal migraines. In case of stress, psychological counseling can be beneficial.