Understanding Pediatric Abdominal Migraine

Abdominal migraine is a common cause of chronic and recurrent abdominal pain in children, according to a recent review. It is characterized by paroxysms of moderate to severe abdominal pain that is midline, periumbilical, or diffuse in location and accompanied by other symptoms including headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, or pallor. Despite the presence of comprehensive diagnostic criteria, it continues to be an underdiagnosed entity. Key points include:

• The average age of diagnosis is 3 to 10 years with peak incidence at 7 years.
• Most of the patients have a personal or family history of migraine.
• Pathophysiology of the condition is believed to be similar to that of other functional gastrointestinal disorders and cephalic migraine; it is also well recognized as a type of pediatric migraine variant.
• A careful history, thorough physical examination, and use of well-defined, symptom-based guidelines are needed to make a diagnosis.
• Although it resolves completely in most of the patients, these patients have a strong propensity to develop migraine later in life.
• Nonpharmacologic treatment options, including avoidance of triggers, behavior therapy, and dietary modifications should be the initial line of management.

Pediatric abdominal migraine: current perspectives on a lesser known entity. [Published online ahead of print April 24, 2018]. Pediatric Health Med Ther. doi:10.2147%2FPHMT.S127210.

Abdominal migraine is a common cause of chronic and recurrent abdominal pain in children, according to a recent review. It is characterized by paroxysms of moderate to severe abdominal pain that is midline, periumbilical, or diffuse in location and accompanied by other symptoms including headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, or pallor. Despite the presence of comprehensive diagnostic criteria, it continues to be an underdiagnosed entity. Key points include:

• The average age of diagnosis is 3 to 10 years with peak incidence at 7 years.
• Most of the patients have a personal or family history of migraine.
• Pathophysiology of the condition is believed to be similar to that of other functional gastrointestinal disorders and cephalic migraine; it is also well recognized as a type of pediatric migraine variant.
• A careful history, thorough physical examination, and use of well-defined, symptom-based guidelines are needed to make a diagnosis.
• Although it resolves completely in most of the patients, these patients have a strong propensity to develop migraine later in life.
• Nonpharmacologic treatment options, including avoidance of triggers, behavior therapy, and dietary modifications should be the initial line of management.

Pediatric abdominal migraine: current perspectives on a lesser known entity. [Published online ahead of print April 24, 2018]. Pediatric Health Med Ther. doi:10.2147%2FPHMT.S127210.

Abdominal migraine is a common cause of chronic and recurrent abdominal pain in children, according to a recent review. It is characterized by paroxysms of moderate to severe abdominal pain that is midline, periumbilical, or diffuse in location and accompanied by other symptoms including headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, or pallor. Despite the presence of comprehensive diagnostic criteria, it continues to be an underdiagnosed entity. Key points include:

• The average age of diagnosis is 3 to 10 years with peak incidence at 7 years.
• Most of the patients have a personal or family history of migraine.
• Pathophysiology of the condition is believed to be similar to that of other functional gastrointestinal disorders and cephalic migraine; it is also well recognized as a type of pediatric migraine variant.
• A careful history, thorough physical examination, and use of well-defined, symptom-based guidelines are needed to make a diagnosis.
• Although it resolves completely in most of the patients, these patients have a strong propensity to develop migraine later in life.
• Nonpharmacologic treatment options, including avoidance of triggers, behavior therapy, and dietary modifications should be the initial line of management.

Pediatric abdominal migraine: current perspectives on a lesser known entity. [Published online ahead of print April 24, 2018]. Pediatric Health Med Ther. doi:10.2147%2FPHMT.S127210.