A migraine is a type of headache (pain in the head) that recurs (keeps coming back). During a migraine, someone may also have nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), vomiting, or dizziness, or be bothered by light, sounds, or smells.

Certain things can trigger (set off) a migraine, such as stress, bright light, hormonal changes (in females), not getting enough sleep, and skipping meals. For some people, certain foods/drinks also can bring on a migraine.

Treatment for migraines includes avoiding or managing triggers. Health care providers can also prescribe medicines to help a migraine go away or to make them happen less often.

Your child was treated in the hospital and is now ready to go home. Follow these instructions to care for your child.

Follow your health care provider's instructions for:

• Giving any medicines as recommended. Some medicines are taken every day to prevent migraines while others are taken when a migraine happens. Don't let your child take the medicines more often than prescribed since this can cause more headaches.
• Whether your child needs to see any specialists.
• When to follow up.

Care for your child when they have a migraine. As soon as your child begins to feel migraine symptoms:

• Give any medicines that your health care provider recommends.
• As long as your health care provider says it's OK, you can give your child acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand), or naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®, or a store brand). Give exactly as directed.
• Don't give your child aspirin, because it has been linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
• Give them plenty of water to drink.
• Have them lie down in a quiet, dark room with a cool cloth on the forehead. Encourage your child to sleep.

Help your child find what triggers their migraines. Have your child keep a migraine diary that includes:

• When the migraines happen
• How long they last
• What made the migraine go away
• What might have triggered the migraine

To help prevent migraines, encourage your child to: 

• Avoid any known triggers, if possible.
• Get plenty of sleep and stick to a regular sleep schedule.
• Eat regularly scheduled meals and snacks.
• Drink plenty of liquids, especially when doing physical activity or in hot weather.
• Find ways to lower stress, such as meditation, physical activity, or yoga.
• Not drink caffeine.
• Not smoke or be around secondhand smoke.
• Wear sunglasses outside.
• When indoors, avoid fluorescent lights as much as possible and use natural light instead.

Your child:

• Has a migraine that doesn't get better after following the health care provider's instructions.
• Isn't helped by the prescribed medicines or has to take the medicines too often.
• Has migraines that are getting worse or happen more often.
• Can't go to school or do other activities because of migraines.
• Has a migraine that seems different. For example, it happens in the morning, wakes your child from sleep, lasts longer than usual, or happens with new symptoms (they feel anxious or seem to have a personality change).

Your child has a migraine and:

• Has a fever and a stiff neck
• Has blurry or double vision
• Seems confused or isn't walking or talking normally
• Is hard to wake up

What causes migraines? The exact cause of migraines isn't known. Doctors and scientists think that they happen because some neurons (nerves in the brain) stop working properly and send the wrong signals. This may affect the nerve system that regulates pain.

Migraines can run in families. Kids and teens with migraines often have family members who get migraines.

What is an aura? An aura is a symptom that starts right before a migraine comes. There are different kinds of auras, such as having blurry vision, seeing flashing lights, or noticing blind spots. Not everyone with migraines has auras.

What foods and drinks can cause migraines? Common food triggers include high-caffeine energy drinks, certain cheeses, aspartame (an artificial sweetener), chocolate, lunch meats, hot dogs, MSG (a food additive), and alcohol.