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Why Do Kids Get Migraines?

According to the Kids Health Website, about five percent of school-age children and ten percent of teenagers have migraines. Kids are thought to get migraines for many of the same reasons that adults do; theirs just tend to come with a few more complex symptoms.

  1. Primary Causes

    • Migraines in children are generally triggered by stress, changes in weather, depression, disruptions in sleeping patterns, strenuous physical activity and poor nutrition.

    Food-Related Triggers

    • According to the Family Doctor Website, certain foods are also known to trigger migraines in children, including processed meats, avocados, caffeine, chocolate, passion fruit, raisins, peanut butter and seasoned salt.

    Gender-Related Causes

    • Boys who are prone to migraines have them the most around the ages of 10 to 12. During high school, girls tend to get more migraines than boys because of menstruation.

    Serotonin-Related Triggers

    • Some children get migraines because of a change in the amount of serotonin in the body. This chemical affects a number of internal functions, one of which is the contraction and constriction of the blood vessels. This process can cause pain around the body, including migraines.

    Theories/Speculation

    • According to Merle Diamond of the Diamond Headache Clinic, children that are prone to car sickness may also be predisposed to migraine headaches.

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