Abdominal migraine

Abdominal migraine is a disorder observed predominantly in children, who complain of severe attacks of recurring tummy ache. The mode of presentation of these episodes is similar to that of migraine, but the pain refers to the abdomen. Furthermore, headaches are not among the symptoms of abdominal migraine.

According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, this disorder is part of the "periodic syndromes of childhood, possible common precursors of migraine". In fact, most of these children are predisposed to suffer from migraine attacks in their lifetime.

The disorder occurs without any apparent cause, with pain and cramps in the center of the abdomen lasting 1-72 hours. The pain is of medium or strong intensity and is associated with nausea, vomiting, anorexia and pallor. In many cases, these attacks are preceded by the so-called aura: the child experiences ringing in the ears and visual disturbances. Between one attack and another, the patient is asymptomatic. The diagnosis of abdominal migraine is confirmed by the exclusion of organic causes that can cause similar symptoms.