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Abdominal migraine: a childhood syndrome defined
Insights
Abdominal migraine is proposed as a diagnosis for children with recurrent abdominal pain and a family history of migraine. Specific anti-migraine treatments provided significant symptom relief in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Neurology
Background:
- Recurrent abdominal pain is common in children.
- A subset of these cases may be linked to migraine, but diagnostic criteria are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define diagnostic criteria for abdominal migraine in children.
- To identify a specific syndrome of recurrent abdominal pain related to migraine.
Main Methods:
- Identified children with recurrent abdominal pain and a family history of migraine.
- Assessed response to anti-migraine therapy.
Main Results:
- Over half of the children had a first-degree relative with migraine.
- Children experienced midline abdominal pain severe enough to disrupt activities.
- Symptoms included pallor, headache, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting.
- Marked relief was observed with anti-migraine therapy.
Conclusions:
- A distinct syndrome of "abdominal migraine" is proposed for these children.
- This condition is characterized by recurrent midline abdominal pain with associated migraine symptoms.
- Anti-migraine therapy is effective for abdominal migraine.
Abstract:
It has long been recognized that some cases of recurrent abdominal pain in children are related to migraine, but the diagnostic criteria for abdominal migraine have not been defined. We have identified a group of children with recurrent abdominal pain who had a family history of migraine--in over half the cases in a first-degree relative--and who obtained marked relief from their symptoms from specific anti-migraine therapy. These children had a well-defined syndrome comprising episodes of midline abdominal pain of sufficient severity to interfere with normal activities and lasting for prolonged periods, frequently accompanied by pallor, headache, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. It is proposed that these children have "abdominal migraine".