Migraines can be more than just a pain — they’re a real headache and a half, putting sufferers on the sidelines, bedridden with unrelenting nausea, vision auras and, of course, a splitting headache. Medications can help, but a new study found that when kids have migraines, getting proper treatment can be a real problem.

Children are counted among the 36 million people who get migraines every year. A new study from the Mercy Clinic Headache Center evaluated care delivered to more than 40,000 kids between the ages of 6 to 17. The researchers discovered that nearly half of children with severe headaches weren’t receiving prescriptions or even over-the-counter pain medications.

The kids’ care was evaluated at metropolitan and non-metropolitan primary care practices, specialty care clinics, emergency departments and urgent care clinics. About 18 percent of the children and teens were diagnosed with a migraine, while 46 percent weren’t diagnosed with anything. Caregivers diagnosed 37 percent of the children with headaches.

The reason for the lack of treatment might be that younger patients aren’t as articulate at expressing their symptoms as adults are. But experts say that’s no reason for caregivers not to dig deeper — if the problem is serious enough for an emergency room visit, it merits a close look.

In positive news, an even newer study shows researchers are getting closer to unlocking a drug that targets a biochemical called calcitonin gene-related peptide, a chemical complicit in migraines. The new drugs could be capable of preventing migraines before they even start.

In the meantime, migraine sufferers should keep in mind triggers such as menstruation, stress, bright lights, skipping meals or changes in sleeping pattern. A little caution can help keep migraines at bay.