What is a migraine headache (episodic)?
Migraine headaches are recurrent headaches that occur at intervals of days, weeks or months. There may or may not be a pattern to the attacks–for example, teenage girls may tend to have attacks associated with their menstrual cycle. Migraines generally have some of the following symptoms and characteristics: • Untreated, they can last from 1 to 72 hours in children. Sleep or medical treatment can reduce this time period. • Headache starts on one side of the head. This may vary from headache to headache and in children, they may start in the front or in both temples. • Throbbing or pounding pain during the headache. • Pain is rated as moderate to severe. • Pain gets worse with exertion. The pain may be so severe that it is difficult or almost impossible to continue with normal daily activities. • Nausea, vomiting, and/or stomach pain commonly occur with the attacks. • Light and/or sound sensitivity is also common. • Pain may be relieved with rest or sleep. • Other members of the family
