These conditions are often difficult to treat and diagnose, even after extensive testing and evaluation by your Pediatrician or a specialist.
Does your child have migraines?
Are his migraines worse after he eats chocolate, dairy products, foods with additives (nitrites, MSG, aspartame), drinks caffeine, doesn't get enough sleep, or when he is under stress? Or does he get migraines when he skips a meal, is exposed to blinking lights, or exercises?
Finding a specific trigger for a child's symptoms can be difficult. Keeping a symptom diary can help to uncover any possible triggers, so that your child can learn to avoid them and hopefully stop his headaches, stomachaches, or whatever problem he has.
When filling out our Daily Symptom Diary, be sure to include as much information as you can. It can help if you fill them out with your child as soon as possible after his headache or stomachache.
- Description of Symptoms - include a full description of your child's symptoms, including how they started and how long they lasted
- Pain Scale is your child's pain (if that is the symptom) mild, moderate, or severe?
- Other Symptoms list any associated symptoms your child had
- How did you feel? describe your child's mood before the symptoms started
- Stressors is your child under stress because of a test, big game, or problems with friends or family?
- Explanation of Stressor:
- Medications Taken: what prescription or OTC meds did your child take?
- Did meds help?
- What made the symptoms better?
- Meals - Time list all of the foods and drinks from each meal
- Other foods/drinks:
- Sleep Time / Naps: how many hours did your child sleep last night?
- Notes: include any other helpful info here, including what you think may have triggered your child's symptoms
