Signs and Symptoms
July 2nd, 2008 . by Peter
A typical migraine attack produces some or all of these signs and symptoms:
* Moderate to severe pain, which may be confined to one side of the head or may affect both sides
* Head pain with a pulsating or throbbing quality
* Pain that worsens with physical activity
* Pain that interferes with your regular activities
* Nausea with or without vomiting
* Sensitivity to light and sound
When left untreated, a migraine typically lasts from four to 72 hours, but the frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. You may have migraines several times a month or just once or twice a year.
Not all migraines are the same. Most people experience migraines without auras, which were previously called common migraines. Some, however, have migraines with auras, which were previously called classic migraines. If you’re in the second group, you’ll likely have an aura about 15 to 30 minutes before your headache begins. Auras may continue after your headache starts or even occur after your headache begins. When you’re experiencing an aura, you may:
* See sparkling flashes of light
* Perceive dazzling zigzag lines in your field of vision
* Experience slowly spreading blind spots in your vision
* Feel tingling, pins and needles sensations in one arm or leg
* Rarely, experience weakness or language and speech problems
Whether or not you have auras, you may have one or more sensations of premonition (prodrome) several hours or a day or so before your headache actually strikes, including:
* Feelings of elation or intense energy
* Cravings for sweets
* Thirst
* Drowsiness
* Irritability or depression
Migraine symptoms in children
Migraines typically begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood and may become less frequent and less intense as you grow older. In addition to physical suffering, severe headaches often mean missed school days and trips to the emergency department, as well as lost work time for anxious parents.
Children’s migraines tend to last for a shorter time. But the pain can be disabling and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness and increased sensitivity to light. A migraine tends to occur on both sides of the head in children.
Children may also have all of the signs and symptoms of a migraine � nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound � but no head pain. These “abdominal migraines” can be especially difficult to diagnose.
The good news is that some of the same medications that are effective for adults also work for children. Your child doesn’t have to go through the pain and disruption of migraines. If your child has headaches, talk to your pediatrician. He or she may want to refer your child to a pediatric neurologist.
Source: MayoClinic.com
