Migraine Headaches Induced by Sexual Abuse

A seven-year-old girl presented ten years ago to our Pediatric Primary Care Clinic with a complaint of recurrent headaches. According to her description, an attack would start with the feeling of abdominal pain, leading to a frontal pressure headache which would get worse and worse. She would then turn pale, feel nauseated and vomit up to eight times per attack. She would become photophobic and prefer to be left alone quietly. She would then go to sleep and wake up feeling well. Between attacks she was healthy, but had mild learning difficulties. For these she was receiving help from a special education teacher.