Abdominal migraine is a form of migraine that causes episodes of moderate to severe abdominal (belly) pain. The episodes last from one to 72 hours. On average, they last 17 hours. The pain can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
It doesn’t cause head pain, but a person can experience a traditional migraine headache and an abdominal migraine at the same time.
Researchers believe there’s a connection between migraine headache and abdominal migraine. The conditions seem to have similar triggers, relieving factors and treatments. They may have a similar cause as well. About 24% of people who have abdominal migraine have migraine headache at some point in their lives, compared to 10% of the general U.S. population.
What are the symptoms of abdominal migraine?
The main symptom of an abdominal migraine episode is abdominal (belly) pain. The pain is usually in the middle of your belly around your belly button. It may feel like a dull ache or soreness and can be moderate or severe.
The episodes usually start suddenly and end abruptly. They can last between one and 72 hours.
Other symptoms that you or your child may experience during an episode include:
A pale appearance (pallor).
Loss of appetite.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Headache.
Some people may experience other migraine symptoms, like light sensitivity (photophobia) and noise sensitivity (phonophobia).
The time between episodes can range from weeks to months. People typically don’t have symptoms in between episodes.
What causes abdominal migraines?
Researchers don’t know yet what causes abdominal migraines, but they have a few hypotheses.
The main hypothesis is that people who experience abdominal migraine have overly sensitive nervous systems — specifically the primary sensory and central spinal neurons in this system. Researchers think that certain genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors may make someone vulnerable to this hypersensitivity.
When a person experiences certain triggers (such as motion sickness or stress), their body abnormally releases neurotransmitters (chemical messengers). One neurotransmitter in particular, serotonin, may contribute to abdominal pain.
What triggers abdominal migraines?
Certain situations may trigger episodes of abdominal migraine. These can vary from person to person.
High-amine foods, such as citrus fruits, chocolate, cheese, salami and ham.
Foods with additive flavoring, coloring and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Flashing lights.
Consuming over 200 milligrams of caffeine.
Treatment
Sometimes, simply knowing what the problem is makes it easier to deal with.
Because we don't know much about abdominal migraines, doctors may treat them like other migraines. But they usually don't prescribe drugs unless the symptoms are very bad or happen a lot.
Medications like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may stop an attack if given early enough. If that doesn't work and the child is over 5, the doctor may recommend triptans like rizatriptan (Maxalt) and zolmitriptan (Zomig) that are available as tablets that dissolve in the mouth, and sumatriptan (Imitrex Nasal Spray, Onzetra Xsail Nasal Powder, Tosymra Nasal Spray) and zolmitriptan (Zomig Nasal Spray) that are available in nasal forms.
Abdominal migraine can be difficult to diagnose, as several conditions and situations can cause abdominal pain.
In addition, children may have difficulty describing their pain and expressing the difference between these symptoms and a typical stomachache.
There aren’t any lab or imaging tests that can diagnose abdominal migraine. Instead, healthcare providers rely on a thorough understanding of your child’s symptoms and medical history to make a diagnosis.
Providers also need to rule out other health conditions that cause similar symptoms, including:
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