How to treat headache in child

Headaches in children - Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis

To learn about the nature of your child's headache, your doctor will likely look to:

Headache history. Your doctor asks you and your child to describe the headaches in detail, to see if there's a pattern or a common trigger. Your doctor may also ask you to keep a headache diary for a time, so you can record more details about your child's headaches, such as frequency, severity of pain and possible triggers.
Physical exam. The doctor performs a physical exam, including measuring your child's height, weight, head circumference, blood pressure and pulse, and examining your child's eyes, neck, head and spine.
Neurological exam. Your doctor checks for any problems with movement, coordination or sensation.

If your child is otherwise healthy and headaches are the only symptom, no further testing usually is needed. In a few cases, however, imaging scans and other evaluations can help pinpoint a diagnosis or rule out other medical conditions that could be causing the headaches. These tests may include:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRIs use a powerful magnet to produce detailed views of the brain. MRI scans help doctors diagnose tumors, strokes, aneurysms, neurological diseases and other brain abnormalities. An MRI can also be used to examine the blood vessels that supply the brain.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan. This imaging procedure uses a series of computer-directed X-rays that provide a cross-sectional view of your child's brain. This helps doctors diagnose tumors, infections and other medical problems that can cause headaches.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). If your doctor suspects that an underlying condition, such as bacterial or viral meningitis, is causing your child's headaches, he or she may recommend a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). In this procedure, a thin needle is inserted between two vertebrae in the lower back to extract a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for laboratory analysis.

More Information

CT scan
Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
MRI

Treatment

Usually you can treat your child's headache at home with rest, decreased noise, plenty of fluids, balanced meals and OTC pain relievers. If your child is older and has frequent headaches, learning to relax and manage stress through different forms of therapy may help, as well.

Medications

OTC pain relievers. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can typically relieve headaches for your child. They should be taken at the first sign of a headache.

Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Prescription medications. Triptans, prescription drugs used to treat migraines, are effective and can be used safely in children older than 6 years of age.

If your child experiences nausea and vomiting with migraines, your doctor may prescribe an anti-nausea drug. The medication strategy differs from child to child, however. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about nausea relief.

Caution: Overuse of medications is itself a contributing factor to headaches (medication overuse headache). Over time, painkillers and other medications may lose their effectiveness. In addition, all medications have side effects. If your child takes medications regularly, including OTC products, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Therapies

While stress doesn't appear to cause headaches, it can act as a trigger for headaches or make a headache worse. Depression also can play a role. For these situations, your doctor may recommend one or more behavior therapies, such as:

Relaxation training. Relaxation techniques include deep breathing, yoga, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, in which you tense one muscle at a time. Then you completely release the tension, until every muscle in the body is relaxed. An older child can learn relaxation techniques in classes or at home using books or videos.
Biofeedback training. Biofeedback teaches your child to control certain body responses that help reduce pain. During a biofeedback session, your child is connected to devices that monitor and give feedback on body functions, such as muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure.

Your child then learns how to reduce muscle tension and slow his or her heart rate and breathing. The goal of biofeedback is to help your child enter a relaxed state to better cope with pain.
Cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy can help your child learn to manage stress and reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. During this type of talk therapy, a counselor helps your child learn ways to view and cope with life events more positively.

More Information

Biofeedback
Cognitive behavioral therapy

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Lifestyle and home remedies

OTC pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), are usually effective in reducing headache pain. Before giving your child pain medication, keep these points in mind:

Read labels carefully and use only the dosages recommended for your child.
Don't give doses more frequently than recommended.
Don't give your child OTC pain medication more than two or three days a week. Daily use can trigger a medication overuse headache, a type of headache caused by overuse of pain medications.
Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

In addition to OTC pain medications, the following can help ease your child's headache:

Rest and relaxation. Encourage your child to rest in a dark, quiet room. Sleeping often resolves headaches in children.
Use a cool, wet compress. While your child rests, place a cool, wet cloth on his or her forehead.
Offer a healthy snack. If your child hasn't eaten in a while, offer a piece of fruit, whole-wheat crackers or low-fat cheese. Not eating can make headaches worse.

Alternative medicine

Although they haven't been well studied, a number of dietary supplements have been suggested to help children's headaches, including:

Riboflavin
Magnesium
Coenzyme Q10
Vitamin D

Check with your child's doctor before trying any herbal products or dietary supplements to be sure they won't interact with your child's medicine or have harmful side effects.

Several alternative treatments may also be helpful for headaches in children, including:

Acupuncture. Acupuncture practitioners use extremely thin, disposable needles that generally cause little pain or discomfort. Some research has suggested that this treatment may help relieve headache symptoms.
Massage. Massage can help reduce stress and relieve tension, and may help ease headaches.

Preparing for your appointment

Typically, you make an appointment with your family doctor or your child's pediatrician. Depending on the frequency and severity of your child's symptoms, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions of the brain and nervous system (neurologist).

Here's information to help you get ready for your child's appointment and to know what to expect from the doctor.

What you can do

Write down your child's signs and symptoms, when they occurred, and how long they lasted. It may help to keep a headache diary — listing each headache, when it happens, how long it lasts and what might have caused it.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements your child is taking.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.

For headaches in children, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What's the most likely cause of the symptoms?
Are tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?
What treatments are available and which do you recommend?
Does my child need prescription medication, or would an OTC medication work?
What follow-up, if any, is needed?
What can we do at home to lessen the pain?
What can we do at home to prevent headaches?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

When did the symptoms start? Have they changed over time?
How often does your child experience these symptoms?
How long does the headache usually last?
Where does the pain occur?
Have the symptoms been continuous or intermittent?
Does your child have other symptoms, such as nausea or dizziness?
Does anything make your child's symptoms better?
Does anything make the symptoms worse?
What treatments have you tried?
What medications does your child take?
Do other family members get headaches?

What you can do in the meantime

Until you see your child's doctor, if your child has a headache, place a cool, wet cloth on your child's forehead and encourage him or her to rest in a dark, quiet room.

Consider giving your child OTC pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to ease symptoms.

Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Types, Home Treatments and Prevention

A headache is one of the most common complaints of children and teenagers. There are many different types of headaches. Each type may be treated differently. A detailed history and physical exam can help figure out what kind of headache your child has.

Types of Headaches

Migraine headache – This is a severe type of headache that has specific symptoms and keeps coming back. If you think that your child has migraine headaches, you should make an appointment with their health care provider for a thorough evaluation.

Tension headache – This is a more common and milder type of headache. Your child may say the pain feels like a tight band around their head. Some of the common causes are emotional stress, getting too tired, and poor hydration (not drinking enough).

Headache from infection – These headaches occur with viral infections such as colds and flu. They usually stop when the illness is over. Sinus congestion and infections can cause head pain around the eyes and nose.

Medication overuse headache (analgesic rebound headache) – Do not give over-the-counter pain medicines more than 2 days a week. Taking them too often can cause medication overuse headaches. These are headaches that come back sooner, more often, and are more painful. If your child needs medicine more often, talk to their health care provider.

Headaches after a head injury – Headaches are common after a head injury. They are usually mild and go away within 2 weeks. Sometimes, though, the pain may occur for several weeks or months after an injury.

Headaches with dental problems (such as jawbone joint problems) – When a child has jaw pain or discomfort, pain in the temples (the soft spots between the eyes and the ears) or hears a clicking sound when opening the jaw, they should see a dentist. Grinding of the teeth may also cause this type of headache.

Home Treatments

The best treatment for a mild, occasional headache is rest and relaxation.
Use a cold compress or apply heat, whichever helps your child the most.
Place a cold, wet washcloth or ice wrapped in a washcloth on the head or neck (Picture 1). Do not place ice directly on the skin because it can damage the skin.
Place a warm, not hot, wet washcloth on the head or neck or have your child take a warm shower.
You can give over-the-counter pain medicines like ibuprofen (Motrin^®, Advil^®), acetaminophen (Tylenol^®), or naproxen (Aleve^®). Read the label on the bottle to know the right dose and right timing for your child.
To prevent medication overuse rebound headaches, do not give pain medicine more than 2 days each week.
Do not give aspirin or other medicines unless the health care provider says it is safe to do.
Do not give over-the-counter pain medicines too often. Doing that can cause medication overuse headaches.

Keep a Record

Keep a record of the headaches over a period of time. This will help the health care provider decide on a plan of treatment for your child. You can use the Headache Record on the last pages of this handout, a calendar, or a headache-tracking app.

When to Get Emergency Care

Take your child to an emergency room or call 911 right away if they have:

Confusion
Extreme sleepiness (hard to wake up)
Sudden, severe head pain happening for the first time
Double vision - sees 2 of the same thing when only 1 is there
Frequent projectile vomiting - vomit shoots out of the mouth
Headache with a stiff neck or complains of neck pain, especially with a fever

When to Call the Health Care Provider

Call your child’s health care provider if your child’s headaches:

Happen every day, especially if they interfere with school or play.
Occur along with pain in the eye or ear, confusion, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, or numbness.
Keep coming back and get worse.
Are similar to those that other family members have.
Follow a head injury and do not go away after a week.
Are severe enough to wake them up from sleep.

Prevention

Make sure your child gets enough sleep and follows a routine. They should go to sleep and wake up at about the same time each day.
Serve meals at regular times. Do not let your child skip meals.
Your child should drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Sports drinks may also be given.
Make sure your child gets regular exercise or active play.
Provide support for stress and emotional upset. Encourage them to talk openly with you so you are aware of what is troubling them.
Some children are sensitive to certain foods, such as chocolate, meats prepared with nitrates (hot dogs, lunch meats, pepperoni, and bacon), foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG), aged cheeses, fried foods, caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks with caffeine, and energy drinks). It may help to avoid these foods for a while to see if the headaches go away.

Follow-Up Appointment

Your child’s health care provider will want to see them for follow-up. It is important to keep these appointments.
Please bring the Headache Record with you when you see the doctor.

Headaches in Children (PDF), Somali (PDF), Spanish (PDF)

Headache in a child: causes, symptoms, treatment

Headache is one of the most common symptoms of many diseases on the planet. It is one of the most common complaints in childhood and adolescence. There is an opinion that children can periodically have a headache and this is due to growth and transitional age. In this statement, it is true that the peak frequency of complaints in children falls precisely on the transitional age. The appearance of complaints of a headache in a child indicates that he cannot cope with the increasing academic load, including the excessive demands from parents and teachers. Therefore, he needs planned assistance, which is based on the reorganization of the daily routine, optimization of loads, and, if necessary, medical treatment. nine0003

A child can complain of a headache from the age of 5, when he can already describe his sensations. In very young children, it is determined by his behavior.

Causes

Head injuries
Inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis)
Violation of the daily routine with lack of sleep, increased physical and emotional stress
Malnutrition, anemia
Weather changes
Vascular diseases - increase or decrease in blood pressure, diseases of the heart, kidneys, anomalies in the development of cerebral vessels, etc.
Worm infestations
Infectious diseases with SARS, infectious mononucleosis, meningitis, encephalitis
Increased intracranial or intraocular pressure
Visual impairments

If a child complains of frequent headaches, a doctor's consultation is necessary. In Saratov, you can seek qualified medical care at the First Children's Medical Center with a pediatrician: here you can get help from narrow specialists, and, if necessary, pass the necessary tests or undergo a complete examination. nine0003

Types and symptoms

1. Migraine - is an independent pathology not associated with the disease, and is manifested by bouts of intense pain, often pulsating. It is localized on one side of the head in the frontotemporal region, less often in the orbital region, and is often accompanied by vomiting, after which relief occurs. In young children, migraine is bilateral.

2. Tension headache - mild or moderate, compressive or pressing, bilateral. Localization in the frontal and frontotemporal regions. Duration - several hours. Often resolves on its own after rest. The reason is the tension of the muscles of the head and neck. nine0003

3. Headaches due to infections occur during or before the illness. Accompanied by fever, catarrhal phenomena.

4. Headache in neuroinfections. Localization - any. The nature of the pain is bursting. Accompanied by vomiting, convulsions, fever.

5. Headache in brain tumors - a consequence of intracranial hypertension. The nature of the pain is bursting, manifested more often in the morning, accompanied by nausea or vomiting, which does not bring relief. nine0003

6. Headache in infants. Crying appears for no apparent reason, the cry is monotonous. Abundant regurgitation, vomiting "fountain", sleep disturbances are noted. A large fontanelle protrudes above the level of the skull.

7. Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. This nerve provides sensation to the face. the cause of inflammation can be hypothermia, trauma, infections (often - the herpes virus). Manifested by attacks of intense throbbing pain (in the cheeks, jaw, forehead). Sometimes accompanied by tearing and salivation. nine0003

8. Headache associated with eye strain. When reading books, drawing, watching TV, playing with gadgets, the optic nerve receives a large load that the child's body cannot cope with. There are painful sensations of a pressing nature without nausea and vomiting, pain in the eyes, tearing.

When do you need to see a doctor urgently?

1. Severe and sudden headache

2. Unusual, shooting pain, accompanied by noise in the ears and head. nine0003

3. Changes in body position increase pain

4. Headache begins to bother you in the morning

5. Severe pain after an injury

6. If the pain is very intense and is accompanied by:

an increase or decrease in blood pressure
weakness or impaired sensation in the limbs, impaired speech
violation of sensitivity, numbness of the skin of the face, tongue
change of consciousness

Indications for emergency hospitalization - to exclude neuroinfection, hemorrhage, space-occupying formations.

First aid: advice from a pediatrician

Put the patient to bed
Eliminate TV and other external distractions
Supply fresh air
You can take painkillers (dosage check with your doctor)

There are a lot of varieties and forms of this pathology in children. Only a doctor can determine the cause after a thorough examination. To clarify the diagnosis can be assigned:

complete blood count, urine, blood biochemistry
feces on eggs of worms
ekg
duplex examination of cerebral and neck vessels
X-ray of the cervical spine
MRI

Only after the diagnosis, the doctor can say exactly why the child is experiencing discomfort.

Preventive measures

Follow simple rules to reduce the intensity of pain:

Daily routine
Timely, wholesome nutrition
Outdoor walks
Protect your child from stress, overwork
Sanitation of chronic foci of infection (tonsillitis, adenoids)
Timely sanitation of the oral cavity
Restrictions on computer games, TV viewing
Active lifestyle

Where can I get help from a pediatrician in Saratov? nine0009

Frequent headaches in childhood may be the cause of the pathology. In order to determine what exactly is happening with your child, you need to seek the advice of a specialist. First of all, you need to make an appointment with the pediatrician.

The First Children's Medical Center offers highly qualified doctors who work with children of all ages. Our Center provides everything for the comfort of children and parents. If you cannot visit a pediatrician (Saratov is not your city, and you cannot get to the Center) in person, then you can make an online consultation with one of our specialists. nine0003

You can sign up for a consultation from 8.00 to 20.00 by calling (8452) 244-000. Reception is by appointment.

Headache in children

Headache is familiar to almost all people on the planet. Every day, new patients with complaints of headache appear at the appointment with a pediatric neurologist. It would seem that such a frequent phenomenon has long been well studied, and should not present difficulties in treatment. However, every child with such complaints can be a mystery to the doctor. In this article, we will discuss the main problems that arise when observing children with headaches. nine0003

Let's start with the fact that headache is indeed a very common occurrence in childhood. The common question of parents, whether the baby has a headache, has no reliable answer - we cannot ask a child of this age about the sensations. At an older age, when the child begins to speak, the picture becomes somewhat clearer. And yet, in children up to about 5-6 years old, you need to be very careful in evaluating complaints - pointing to the head, a small child can describe many sensations. That is, it may not be pain at all, and not at all in the head. Sometimes children so indicate general malaise, drowsiness, dizziness, pain in the ears, neck, back, and sometimes they simply copy the behavior of someone around them to attract attention to themselves. Neurologists, knowing the characteristics of complaints in childhood, can focus on changes in the child's behavior, features of his appearance, combination with other problems and findings during neurological examination. Doctors evaluate the intensity of headaches on special scales, in older children on a ten-point scale, in younger children - according to special pictures. nine0003

Main types of headaches

The most common types of headaches are tension headache and migraine.

Tension headaches (or tension-type headache) are usually pressing, symmetrical, like a hoop around the head. The intensity of such pain can fluctuate, but in most cases does not interfere with the child's daily life - for example, the child can go to school and do household chores.

Migraine is often, although not always, characterized by asymmetric pain, that is, half of the head may hurt. Migraine pain is often severe and can be throbbing. A migraine attack is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, intolerance to bright lights and harsh sounds. In addition to pain, with migraines, visual disturbances, dizziness, and a feeling of numbness in different parts of the body are sometimes observed. A migraine attack, unlike a tension headache, usually prevents the child from doing normal activities (going to school, walking). Sleep can bring relief. nine0003

Both types of headache can be triggered by hunger, insufficient fluid intake, intake of caffeinated drinks, sleep disturbance (lack of sleep, or, conversely, long sleep on weekends), stress, certain foods (smoked meats, cheeses, colored fruits, carbonated drinks).

Fortunately, these types of headaches are usually not associated with any serious changes in the body and do not threaten the child's life. However, there may be situations when a headache is a symptom of a serious illness that needs emergency help. nine0003

An emergency consultation with a pediatric neurologist is required in the following cases:

pain appeared due to a head injury;
pain comes on at night and wakes the child;
pain is associated with vomiting, pain and stiffness in the neck, double vision and loss of vision, impaired consciousness, unsteadiness when walking, fever.

In addition to the neurologist, other specialists may be involved in the treatment of small patients with persistent headaches. So, sometimes pain occurs due to incorrect posture and pathological muscle tension. Such situations require the participation of an orthopedic doctor. nine0003

Pediatric Ophthalmologist can help with diagnosis and treatment if the pain is related to vision problems or improper fitting of glasses. In addition, in case of serious diseases associated with increased intracranial pressure (for example, meningitis, brain tumors), an ophthalmologist helps to detect changes in the fundus - the so-called congestive optic disc. This symptom will be the basis for additional examinations - computed or magnetic resonance imaging. nine0003

Pediatric Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) provides important information about the condition of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses. Inflammatory processes in them often cause prolonged headaches that are difficult to treat. Sometimes with such pains there is a change in the intensity of pain when changing the position of the head.

Instrumental diagnosis for headache is used in cases where the doctor has doubts about the diagnosis or some abnormality in the brain that causes pain is suspected. The usual studies in such situations are computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The choice of diagnostic method depends on the alleged cause of the pain, so a non-specialist should not do all possible examinations on their own in advance, they may not provide the necessary information. nine0003

Headache treatment depends on the type of pain and its association with comorbidities. In acute situations, painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen) are prescribed, but these drugs are not suitable for preventive treatment. Do not be surprised if a neurologist suggests medications related to antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or "heart" drugs for preventive treatment. World standards of treatment provide these funds for the treatment of chronic pain, and not only headaches.