Colic may be an early form of migraine in babies, new evidence suggests. Results from a study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in California indicate that babies of mothers who have a history of migraines might be more likely to suffer with colic than those with no family history of the condition, suggesting the possibility that colic is an early manifestation of a ‘migraine gene’ babies.
Colic is unexplained, persistent crying in young babies. While doctors are not yet certain where the pain of colic originates, it is thought that it may be caused by wind in the abdomen, which also ties in with the gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting that are commonly associated with migraines in older children.
The study found that around 29 percent of those mothers with a history of migraines had colicky babies, while the same was true of only 11 percent of mothers who didn’t have migraines.
The findings of the migraine in babies study are also supported by previous research indicating that children who suffer with migraines are more likely to have had colic as babies that those who don’t.
The good news is that not all babies develop colic, and in those that do, it doesn’t last for long, usually occurring when the baby is around 6 to 8 weeks old and resolving in most cases by around 4 months. So remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
As your child grows, look out for symptoms of childhood migraine. Besides headaches – which do not always occur in children with migraines – symptoms can include unusual behavior such as fatigue, hyperactivity and irritability, and later, pallor, sleepiness, confusion, and prolonged episodes of nausea or vomiting. If your child is showing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor for advice.
Imigran Recovery Tablets are not suitable for those aged under 18 years old.
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