Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: 7 year old with daily headaches
Forum: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum
Topic Area: Neurology
Posted by CCF Neurology M.D./TJW on September 19, 1998 at 22:35:16:
In Reply to: 7 year old with daily headaches posted by Tonya on September 01, 1998 at 21:10:20:


My daughter is 7 and around 6 months ago she started having headaches that on occasion would make her sick to her stomach. I thought they may be from taking gymnastics and always standing on her head. Now, she is no longer taking gymnastics and they have started up again but this time with severe pain. She has a headache almost daily and they range from slightly painful to sickening. Symptoms....face is hot(no temp)puffy eyes, upset stomach, occasional vomiting, headaches differ in area. Headaches can last anywhere from half hour to several hours, possibly into next day. Sometimes they will be present and let up , but will return with very much activity. Her pediatrician thinks she is having miagraines and is have a MRI done to see what is going on. What do you think. Is it true I can watch her diet? The last couple of headaches she had were around a half hour after eating?\Thank you.
________

Dear Tonya:

I am sorry to hear of your daughters predicament. Your physician sounds
as if he is on the right track regarding a diagnosis of migraine headache,
as these are often associated with nausea and vomiting, throbbing head
pain (usually unilateral), increased pain with physical activity. The
MRI scan was probably recommended to rule out the possibility of structural
lesions causing the headache symptoms.

Yes, inciting dietary factors are frequently seen. These include red wine,
aged cheese, chicken liver, pickled herring, chocolate, tuna, sour cream
and yogurt, ripe avocado and banana, smoked meats, and foods with
monosodium glutamate and nitrates.

The treatment for your daughters headache should be focused on abortive
therapy at this stage, given her prolonged and daily symptoms. This can
vary from simple analgesics to stronger narcotic analgesics, ergotamine
derivatives, or even steroids. I hope this strategy has been employed by
now, and your daughter has found relief from her headache pain.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance; if you reply using
my initials (Dr. TJW), it will alert me to answer promptly.

Good luck to you and your daughter.

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