Mothers frequently call their headaches migraine, while failing to recognise true migraine in their children, a consumer survey conducted on behalf of Pfizer, which manufactures Migraleve, has found.
The survey, conducted among mothers of children aged from 10 to 16 years, found that while 21 per cent of mothers said that their children suffered from headaches once a month and regularly missed school, only 7 per cent said that it was migraine. In addition, 35 per cent said that their children also experienced stomach-aches and 21 per cent sickness and nausea, both of which are symptoms of migraine.
Commenting in a Pfizer press release, Dr Anne MacGregor (director of clinical research, London Migraine Clinic) said: "Although 2m children suffer from migraine between the ages of seven and 15 years, parents are often unaware that their children may be suffering from attacks. Pharmacists need to be able to distinguish clearly the symptoms of migraine from those of normal headache in order to offer a parent the right advice. If a parent comes into the pharmacy saying that a child is suffering from frequent headaches, which are often accompanied by stomach aches or sickness, pharmacists should advise them to visit a general medical practitioner who can give a proper diagnosis."
Pharmacists can obtain copies of a Migraleve leaflet on childhood migraine from A Parent's Guide to Childhood Migraine, PO Box 100, Warrington WA4 6FB.

Migraine Awareness Week begins on September 3