About Migraine / Migraine in Kids and Teens / Recognizing and Diagnosing

Migraine in children and teens

Recognizing and diagnosing migraine in young people

Migraine can look different in children than it does in adults. Learning to notice recurring symptoms, timing, and impact can help families prepare for a thoughtful clinical evaluation.

Young student writing observations in a notebook for Migraine Research Fund

Why recognition can be difficult

Migraine may involve more than head pain

Some children have less prominent head pain alongside symptoms such as nausea, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, fatigue, or sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch. Younger children may find it difficult to describe what they feel, so changes in routine and behavior can provide useful context.

Some young people experience migraine with aura, which can involve temporary visual or other sensory symptoms. Many experience migraine without aura. Symptoms vary, and no single sign confirms migraine.

Changes families may notice

Before or during an episode, a child may become tired, irritable, quiet, less interested in food, or unusually sensitive to their surroundings. Yawning, food cravings, and changes in mood can also occur. Motion sickness and a family history of migraine may be relevant to the clinician’s assessment, but they are not diagnostic by themselves.

Possible patterns

What to observe

These features can help describe an episode, but they may also have other causes. A qualified clinician must consider the full health history and examination.

Head and body symptoms

Note head pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, fatigue, and any visual or sensory changes.

Sensory sensitivity

Record whether light, sound, smell, movement, or touch seems to worsen discomfort or prompts a child to seek a quiet room.

Timing and duration

Track when symptoms begin, how long they last, how quickly they develop, and whether a recognizable pattern emerges.

Routine and context

Changes in sleep, missed meals, stress, travel, weather, strong odors, noise, and hormonal changes may coincide with episodes.

Daily-life impact

Include missed school, reduced participation, difficulty concentrating, interrupted sleep, or the need to stop normal activities.

Family and care history

Tell the clinician about relevant family history, previous evaluations, medicines, other approaches, and the response to each.

Clinician preparing notes for a young patient's migraine evaluation for Migraine Research Fund

Clinical evaluation

How migraine is diagnosed

There is no single routine test that confirms migraine. Diagnosis generally relies on a detailed symptom and health history, a physical and neurological examination, and consideration of other possible explanations.

Tests are not automatically necessary for every child. A clinician may recommend testing when the history or examination suggests that another condition should be investigated. The choice depends on the individual situation rather than a standard checklist.

A useful history may include

Location, quality, severity, and timing of pain
Frequency and duration of episodes
Symptoms before, during, and after an episode
Possible patterns or associated circumstances
Effect on school, sleep, activities, and wellbeing
Previous treatments and the response to them
Relevant medical and family history

Preparing for an appointment

Keep a shared symptom diary

A brief diary completed with the child can give a clinician more reliable detail than memory alone. Keep it factual and avoid deliberately exposing a child to suspected triggers.

STEP 01

Mark the episode

Record the date, start time, duration, and what the child was doing when symptoms began.

STEP 02

Describe symptoms

Use the child’s own words where possible and note pain, nausea, dizziness, sensitivities, or aura-like changes.

STEP 03

Add the context

Note sleep, meals, stress, travel, illness, menstrual timing when relevant, and any medicines used.

STEP 04

Record the outcome

Include how long recovery took, what helped, and how school, rest, or activities were affected.

Continue learning

Next steps for families

Understanding diagnosis is one part of care. Treatment and specialist resources can help families prepare for the next conversation.

Treating migraine in kids and teens

Review broad treatment principles, including the need for an age-appropriate plan developed with a qualified clinician.

Explore treatment information

Children’s headache doctors

Use specialist information as a starting point and confirm credentials, referrals, availability, and coverage directly.

View pediatric specialist resources

Frequently asked questions

Recognition and diagnosis basics

Clear answers to common questions families may have when a child experiences recurring symptoms.

Can a child have migraine without severe head pain?

Yes. In some children, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, sensory sensitivity, or fatigue may be prominent. Because these symptoms have many possible causes, a clinician should evaluate recurring or concerning patterns.

Does family history confirm migraine?

No. Migraine often occurs in families, so the history can be useful, but it does not establish a diagnosis. The clinician considers the complete symptom pattern and examination.

Are particular foods always responsible for attacks?

No. Associations vary and can be difficult to separate from early migraine symptoms such as food cravings. Avoid restrictive diets for a child unless an appropriately qualified clinician recommends them.

Will my child need a scan or other tests?

Not necessarily. Many evaluations depend primarily on history and examination. A clinician may order tests when particular symptoms, examination findings, or changes require further investigation.

What should a child bring to an appointment?

Bring a symptom diary, a list of medicines and supplements, prior test results if available, relevant family history, and notes about school or activity impact.

Should both the child and caregiver describe the symptoms?

When possible, both perspectives are useful. The child can explain how an episode feels, while a caregiver may notice timing, behavior, recovery, and daily-life effects.

Is this page a substitute for diagnosis?

No. Migraine Research Fund provides general education only. A qualified clinician must assess an individual child’s symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment needs.

Questions about this resource?

Contact Migraine Research Fund for general website and educational resource enquiries.

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