Allergies Seasonal allergies, such as allergies to trees, pollen, and the like are common. Among the symptoms produced are nasal stuffiness, sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, cough, and even wheezing. These symptoms are an over-reaction of the immune system. The nasal passages swell, and drainage from the nose and sinuses is impaired. This predisposes the individual to a feeling of fullness above the nose and in the forehead, and the pain is interpreted as“ sinus headache.” In addition, this impaired drainage can be complicated by bacterial overgrowth and a true rhino-sinus infection develops with tenderness over the sinuses, green purulent nasal drainage, and fever. The associated facial and frontal headache is real but it is not migraine or tension-type headache.
Treatment of the infection with nasal decongestants and / or antibiotics will often resolve the problem. Treatment with“ allergy shots,” over time will often prevent these periodic symptoms. Once again, these seasonal allergies are not the“ cause” of your child’ s migraine or tension-type headache.
What about food allergies, gluten sensitivity, lactose / fructose intolerance, and my child’ s abdominal pain and other G. I. symptoms? The causes of these conditions are different from one another but the symptoms may overlap. These disorders do not in fact cause typical episodic migraine. When children and teens are ill from any condition, they may have increased headache. I am often asked if their abdominal pain is abdominal migraine. It should be stated that daily or very frequent abdominal pain is not abdominal migraine. Abdominal migraine often occurs in children who already experience typical episodic migraine. It also occurs more frequently in children whose parents experience typical episodic migraine. It occurs 2 to 4 times per month and is a peri-umbilical cramping pain, often quite severe. Nausea may coexist but vomiting is uncommon. Children may appear pale, and may lie in a dark quiet room. Most of the time there is no headache. The symptoms often last between 30 to 90 minutes.
Celiac disease is being diagnosed with increased frequency. As noted by NHF president, Dr. Arthur Elkind,“ celiac disease is often over diagnosed by lay individuals. If the physician believes the child has celiac disease and headaches from the issue, it is very important to place the child on a gluten-free diet. The diet should not only arrest the headaches, but more importantly prevent or reverse an intestinal malabsorption syndrome.” There are diagnostic procedures and tests that can be very accurate. Research regarding the frequency, severity, and the types of headache occurring in patients with celiac disease is currently underway. The stress to the patient, his or her family, the interference with normal childhood activities, decreased school attendance, and academic performance, as well as the
www. headaches. org | National Headache Foundation 25