Many adults who suffer from migraines can tell the difference between a severe headache and a true migraine.

But when your child complains his head is pounding, how do you know if it’s a migraine? Since medications for migraine are more potent than common headache remedies, it’s important to tell the difference.

According to the Children’s Hospital in Richmond, Va., to be migraine, a child must have recurrent headaches or other neurological symptoms separated by symptom-free intervals and at least three of the following:

  * Pounding or throbbing pain.
  * Pain on one side of the forehead.
  * Nausea, vomiting or abdominal discomfort.
  * Relief by sleep.
  * Family history of migraine.