What is Abdominal migraine?
[[File:Abdomen-periumbilical region.png|thumb|280px|Abdominal migraine causes severe pain in the ''abdomen,'' usually in the ''periumbilical region'' which is the area around the ''umbilicus''.]] '''Abdominal migraine (AM)''' is a kind of [[migraine]] which causes severe [[pain]] in the area of the [[abdomen]]. The pain is usually around the navel (belly button) area, which is called the ''periumbilical area''. It is most common in children starting at about age 7, but younger and older children may also get it.<ref>M. William Schwartz : The 5 Minute Pediatric Consult (The 5-Minute Consult Series) :(Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Sixth edition, 2012) {{ISBN|145111656X}}</ref> Usually, abdominal migraines stop by the time children become teenagers. However, children who have had them are more likely to have migraine [[Headache|headaches]] when they are adults. Sometimes adults also have abdominal migraines. Abdominal migraine causes ''[[paroxysmal]] attacks'' - attacks that happen suddenly, and happen again and again. The attacks can last from 1–72 hours, but they usually last less than 6 hours. They happen about one-third more often in females than in males. Abdominal migraines can cause other [[symptom]]s along with bad pain in the abdomen. People with AM usually have at least two of these other symptoms: [[nausea]], [[vomit]]ing, loss of [[appetite]] (not wanting to eat), [[headache]], [[photophobia]] (being bothered by lights), and [[pallor]] (pale skin). AM is more common in children of women who have had migraine headaches. This suggests that AM may have a [[genetic]] cause (a cause that is passed down from parents to their children). ==Signs and symptoms== Abdominal migraines can cause many different symptoms. A person having an AM may have all of these symptoms, or only a few. *Pain in the abdomen which lasts from 1–72 hours *Loss of appetite (not wanting to eat) *Nausea (feeling like throwing up) *Vomiting (throwing up) *[[Yawn]]ing *[[Listless|Listlessness]] (not having any energy) *[[Drowsi