What Is an Abdominal Migraine?

An abdominal migraine is severe belly pain that comes on suddenly and happens in the middle of the belly (around the belly button). It usually affects kids younger than age 10.

Abdominal migraines don’t cause migraine headaches, but both conditions can cause similar symptoms, like being sensitive to light. It’s also possible to have an abdominal migraine and a migraine headache at the same time.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Abdominal Migraines?

Abdominal migraine flare-ups (or episodes) start and stop suddenly, last from about 1 hour to 3 days, and can happen weeks or months apart.

During a flare-up, kids may:

• have sore or achy pain in the middle of the belly (by the belly button)
• have nausea (feel sick to the stomach) or vomit
• not feel like eating
• be sensitive to noise or light
• look pale

Symptoms can be different for each child, and they might not always have the same ones.

What Causes Abdominal Migraines?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes abdominal migraines. Kids with the condition may have a nervous system that’s more sensitive than usual.

Things that can lead to an abdominal migraine flare-up are called triggers. These include:

• worries or stress
• not getting enough sleep
• travel and motion sickness
• exercise
• flashing lights or too much screen time (on things like cellphones, TVs, tablets, or computers)
• skipping meals and dehydration (not drinking enough water)
• citrus fruits; too much caffeine; and foods that contain certain preservatives (ingredients to prevent spoilage) or MSG (monosodium glutamate), such as hard cheeses, processed meats like ham and salami, and chocolate

Abdominal migraines happen more often in girls and children with a family member who has migraine headaches. Sometimes the condition can be linked to depression or anxiety.

How Are Abdominal Migraines Diagnosed?

An abdominal migraine can look like other stomach conditions, so it can be tough for doctors to diagnose. It also can be hard for kids to explain what their pain is like.

To diagnose an abdominal migraine, doctors will ask about symptoms and do an exam. They may also ask about any stressors at home or school and do tests like X-rays or a belly ultrasound.

How Are Abdominal Migraines Treated?

To treat an abdominal migraine, try having your child lie down in a quiet, dark room. You can put an ice pack or cool cloth on the belly.

Your doctor may recommend medicines that help with pain, nausea, and vomiting. If stress, anxiety, or depression trigger abdominal migraines, therapy may help.

If abdominal migraines aren’t treated, kids may have severe stress, feel like they can’t go to school, or have problems with daily activities.

Can Abdominal Migraines Be Prevented?

Abdominal migraines can’t always be prevented. But learning their triggers and trying to avoid them can help. Here are some tips:

• Keep a diary to track when abdominal migraines happen. You can note what your child ate and did before the episode, whether there was a stressful event, and if you gave any medicine.
• Skip activities that might start abdominal migraines, like watching a show that has flashing lights. If some foods are triggers, help your child avoid them. Sometimes cutting back on caffeine or drinking a lot of water can help prevent an episode.
• Take breaks when driving long distances to avoid motion sickness.
• Teach your child to cope with stress by doing things like playing music, drawing, riding a bike, or talking with you. Exercising regularly and getting enough sleep also might help.
• Keep the same sleep schedule. Try to have your child go to bed and wake up at about the same times (within 2 hours) every day.

Sometimes doctors prescribe medicine to help prevent abdominal migraine flare-ups.

What Else Should I Know?

Abdominal migraines often start going away around puberty. The episodes stop in many kids when they’re in their late teens.

People who had abdominal migraines as children may get migraine headaches as a teen or adult.