Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsRisk FactorsTriggersDiagnosisTreatment for Confusional MigrainePrognosis and Coping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Triggers
Diagnosis
Treatment for Confusional Migraine
Prognosis and Coping
Confusional migraine, also known as acute confusional migraine (ACM), is a type ofmigrainethat causes recurrent attacks of severe headache, as well as confusion, agitation, and language difficulties, among other symptoms. Most often seen in infants, children, and adolescents, thisprimary headache disorderis very rare.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Types of Migraine
Overall, migraines affect about 9% of the total population. While adult and senior cisgender women represent the majority of overall cases, three-quarters of confusional migraine cases are seen in children under 17.
Primarily, there are two types of migraine:
Confusional Migraine Symptoms
Attacks also cause a range of other temporary effects:
The confusion state usually follows, but may also precede, the onset of headache itself. It can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three days. Typically, this stage resolves within 24 hours, with most feeling drowsy afterward.
What Causes Confusional Migraine?It is unclear what specifically causes confusional migraine; however, it is estimated that approximately half of cases are due to mild head trauma.
What Causes Confusional Migraine?
It is unclear what specifically causes confusional migraine; however, it is estimated that approximately half of cases are due to mild head trauma.
Several factors can predispose you to developing confusional migraine:
Your Mobile Phone Use Might Be Contributing to Your Migraines
In the absence of a singular “cure” for migraines, treating the condition often means combining strategies to both prevent attacks and manage them after onset. There arepharmaceutical options for both, as well as other medical approaches to confusional migraine. Some lifestyle changes can help.
Preventive Medications
Especially in cases where attacks occur more frequently, medications may be prescribed for confusional migraines to prevent attacks. Several classes of drugs are prescribed:
Abortive Medications
There are also a number of medications that can help take on symptoms after migraine. Some are available over-the-counter, while for others you’ll need a prescription. These abortive or “rescue” drugs include:
Biofeedback
For migraine in children and adolescents, which represent the majority of confusional migraine cases,biofeedbackis an alternative medicine method that may help.Since stress and tension are common triggers, the goal of this therapy is to sense these levels rising so that you can work to manage them.
In biofeedback therapy, the patient wears sensors to track physiological signs of stress, such as heart rate, breathing, sweating, and muscle activity. Eventually, they learn to detect when distress or physical overexertion may be bringing on attacks.
With that knowledge, they can be proactive about managing migraines and help prevent them. This may involve mindfulness techniques, meditation, breathing exercises, and learning other strategies to release tension.
Other Strategies
Several other methods may also be recommended for a migraine management plan, including:
While confusional migraines can be challenging to take on, the good news is that they are treatable and can be managed. In most children and adolescents who experience them, medications and other strategies are able to ease their frequency and intensity within six months.They also aren’t associated with actual damage to brain structures.
That said, researchers have found links between confusional migraine in adolescence and migraine with aura in adulthood.More than half of those who experience migraines during their teen years will experience recurrence as adults.
Since migraines are unpredictable, and since they’re often linked withdepression and anxiety, it can be challenging to live with them. Additional strategies may be needed to ease the burden, including:
A Word From Verywell
There’s no doubt that confusional migraine attacks can be very debilitating and even frightening. However, this condition can be effectively managed. Additionally, as our understanding of this neurological disorder continues to grow, so will treatments become even more effective. Essential in all of this is to take a proactive approach. If you or your child suffers from migraine, talk to your doctor about what you can do to take on this condition.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Farooqi AM, Padilla JM, Monteith TS.Acute Confusional Migraine: Distinct Clinical Entity or Spectrum of Migraine Biology?.Brain Sci. 2018;8(2):29. Published 2018 Feb 7. doi:10.3390/brainsci8020029Cleveland Clinic.Migraines in children & teens: causes, symptoms & treatments.National Institutes of Health.Migraine.Schipper S, Riederer F, Sándor PS, Gantenbein AR.Acute confusional migraine: our knowledge to date.Expert Rev Neurother. 2012;12(3):307-314. doi:10.1586/ern.12.4Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches: causes, treatment & symptoms.Cleveland Clinic.Biofeedback: what is it & procedure details.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Farooqi AM, Padilla JM, Monteith TS.Acute Confusional Migraine: Distinct Clinical Entity or Spectrum of Migraine Biology?.Brain Sci. 2018;8(2):29. Published 2018 Feb 7. doi:10.3390/brainsci8020029Cleveland Clinic.Migraines in children & teens: causes, symptoms & treatments.National Institutes of Health.Migraine.Schipper S, Riederer F, Sándor PS, Gantenbein AR.Acute confusional migraine: our knowledge to date.Expert Rev Neurother. 2012;12(3):307-314. doi:10.1586/ern.12.4Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches: causes, treatment & symptoms.Cleveland Clinic.Biofeedback: what is it & procedure details.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Farooqi AM, Padilla JM, Monteith TS.Acute Confusional Migraine: Distinct Clinical Entity or Spectrum of Migraine Biology?.Brain Sci. 2018;8(2):29. Published 2018 Feb 7. doi:10.3390/brainsci8020029Cleveland Clinic.Migraines in children & teens: causes, symptoms & treatments.National Institutes of Health.Migraine.Schipper S, Riederer F, Sándor PS, Gantenbein AR.Acute confusional migraine: our knowledge to date.Expert Rev Neurother. 2012;12(3):307-314. doi:10.1586/ern.12.4Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches: causes, treatment & symptoms.Cleveland Clinic.Biofeedback: what is it & procedure details.
Farooqi AM, Padilla JM, Monteith TS.Acute Confusional Migraine: Distinct Clinical Entity or Spectrum of Migraine Biology?.Brain Sci. 2018;8(2):29. Published 2018 Feb 7. doi:10.3390/brainsci8020029
Cleveland Clinic.Migraines in children & teens: causes, symptoms & treatments.
National Institutes of Health.Migraine.
Schipper S, Riederer F, Sándor PS, Gantenbein AR.Acute confusional migraine: our knowledge to date.Expert Rev Neurother. 2012;12(3):307-314. doi:10.1586/ern.12.4
Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches: causes, treatment & symptoms.
Cleveland Clinic.Biofeedback: what is it & procedure details.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
