When we hear the word migraine, a few common symptoms might come to mind: throbbing head pain, loss of vision, sensitivity to light, nausea. While these symptoms sound extreme, they’re unfortunately the norm for many migraine sufferers.1
But can migraines cause fever? The answer to that question is more complicated than a simple yes or no answer. Below, we’ll investigate the connection between migraine headaches and fevers and discuss how and when a migraine might cause a fever.
Common migraine symptoms
Migraine symptoms vary from person to person, but the most common sign that you’re dealing with a migraine is a headache.1,2 Migraine headache pain is often characterized as pulsing or throbbing. It can be localized on one side of the head or occur on both sides.1,2 Migraine head pain may start out as a dull ache that becomes more and more severe when left untreated.1 Migraine head pain can be accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting and sensitivity to light, sound, smell, and/or touch.1,2
In addition to the tell-tale migraine headache, migraine symptoms may also include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, sweating and chills, a feeling of tiredness, blurred vision, pallor, a tender scalp, and rarely, fever.2 While migraines can cause fever, the appearance of a fever during a migraine is rare and typically only occurs during severe episodes.2,3,4
Familial hemiplegic migraine
Familial hemiplegic migraine, also referred to as “hemiplegic-ophthalmoplegic migraine,” is a type of recurrent migraine that is genetically inherited.3 Like the common migraine, familiar hemiplegic migraines typically present as a throbbing headache that may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.3 Familial hemiplegic migraines often start during childhood or adolescence. Like some other types of migraines, a familial hemiplegic migraine attack may be preceded by an aura with visual symptoms like double vision, blind spots, flashing lights, and zig-zagging lines.3 The aura stage of a familial hemiplegic migraine can also be accompanied by weakness or numbness on one side of the body.3
During severe episodes of familial hemiplegic migraines, some people have reported extreme symptoms including fever.3 However, it’s important to note that familial hemiplegic migraines only cause fever during unusually severe cases and fever is not a common symptom of every familial hemiplegic migraine.3
