Nighttime migraines

Just wondering if anyone knows about Migraines that occur at night?  My 10 yr old son often wakes me up to say he has a bad headache.  Sometimes he will throw up.  It probably happens about once a month.  Motrin seems to help.

[Dr_Smita_S]

Hi

First of all, I must say that you should consult a doctor for proper diagnosis of headache in your son. Not all headaches are due to migraine and hence it is always better to get them diagnosed.

There is a possibility that these headaches might be migraines. The usual triggers of migraine during night can be a lack of food or sleep, anxiety, stress, exposure to light. The headache is generally experienced in one area/side of the head. It is often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. It may be preceded by an "aura", visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision.

The exact diagnosis would depend on a detailed history with respect to the exact site, duration, time of the day, intensity, any associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting, visual loss, any neurological symptoms along with your past medical history. Tests such as blood tests, CT scan, MRI are usually necessary to establish a diagnosis.

Take care!