Headaches in children

Description

Headaches in children are common and are generally not serious. Just like adults, children can develop different types of headaches, including migraines or stress-related (tension) headaches. The children may also have headaches, chronic daily.

In some cases, headaches in children are caused by an infection, high levels of stress or anxiety, or minor head trauma. It is important to pay attention to your child's headache symptoms and consult a doctor if the headache worsens or occurs frequently.

Headaches in children can usually be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication and healthy habits, such as a regular schedule for sleeping and eating.

Symptoms

The children get the same types of headaches in adults, but its symptoms can be a little bit different. For example, the pain of migraine headaches in adults, often lasts for at least four hours, but in children, pain might not last for a long time.

Differences in symptoms can make it difficult to pinpoint the type of headache in a child, especially in small children who can not describe the symptoms. In general, however, certain symptoms tend to fall more often in certain categories.

Migraine

The migraine headache can cause:

  • Throbbing or stabbing pain in head
  • Pain that worsens with activity
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Extreme sensitivity to light and sound

Even babies can have migraines. A child who is too young to tell you what's wrong, you can cry, or rock back and forth to indicate severe pain.

Tension-type headache

Tension-type headaches can cause:

  • A pressing the tension in the muscles of the head or neck
  • Mild to moderate, nonpulsating pain on both sides of the head
  • The pain that worsens with physical activity
  • Headaches that are not accompanied by nausea or vomiting, as is often the case with migraine

Young children may be removed to regulate the game and you want to sleep more. Tension-type headaches can last from 30 minutes to several days.

Cluster headache

Headaches are common in children under 10 years of age. Generally:

  • They appear in groups of five or more episodes, ranging from a headache every other day to eight of the day
  • Involve sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the head that lasts less than three hours
  • They are accompanied by teariness, congestion, runny nose, or restlessness or agitation

Chronic daily headache

The doctors used the phrase "chronic daily headache" (HRC) of migraine and tension-type headaches that occur more than 15 days a month. chronic daily headache (CDH) can be caused by an infection, minor injury to the head or taking pain medications — even over-the-counter pain medications — too often.

When to see a doctor

Most headaches are not serious, but seek immediate medical attention if your child's headaches:

  • Wake your child up from sleep
  • Get worse or become more frequent
  • Change the personality of your child
  • Follow an injury, as a blow to the head
  • Feature of persistent vomiting, or vision changes
  • Are accompanied by fever and neck pain or stiffness

Talk with your child's doctor if you are concerned or have questions about your child's headaches.

Causes

A number of factors that can cause your child to develop headaches. Factors include:

  • Disease and infection. Common diseases such as colds, flu, and ear and sinus infections are some of the most common causes of headaches in children. Very rarely, meningitis or encephalitis can cause headaches.
  • Trauma to the head. Bumps and bruises can cause headaches. Although the majority of head injuries are minor, seek immediate medical attention if your child falls hard on his head or gets hit hard in the head. Also, contact a doctor if your child has a headache worsens continuously after a head injury.
  • Emotional factors. Stress and anxiety — perhaps caused by problems with peers, teachers or parents can play a role in children, headaches. Children with depression may complain of headaches, especially if they have problems to recognize the feelings of sadness and loneliness.
  • The genetic predisposition. Headaches, especially migraines tend to run in families.
  • Certain foods and drinks. Nitrates — a food preservative found in cured meats, such as bacon, bologna and hot dogs — you can trigger headaches, as the food additive monosodium glutamate. Also, the excess of caffeine in soft drinks, chocolates, and sports drinks — can cause headaches.
  • Problems in the brain. In rare cases, a brain tumor or an abscess, or bleeding in the brain, you can click on the areas of the brain, causing a chronic illness, headache gets worse. Usually, in these cases, however, there are other symptoms, such as visual problems, dizziness and lack of coordination.

Risk factors

Any child can develop headaches, but are more common in:

  • The girls after they reach puberty
  • Children who have a family history of headaches or migraines
  • Older teens

Prevention

The following can help prevent headaches or reduce the severity of headaches in children:

  • The practice of healthy behaviors. Behaviors that promote good general health can also help prevent the headaches of his son. These lifestyle measures include sleep, stay physically active, eat healthy meals and snacks, drinking eight glasses of water a day, and limit caffeine.
  • Reduce stress. The stress and busy schedules can increase the frequency of the headaches. Be alert to the things that can cause stress in your child's life, such as difficulty doing tasks or strained relationships with their peers. If your child has headaches are linked to anxiety or depression, consider talking with a counselor.
  • Keep a pain diary.A diary can help you determine what is the cause of your child's headaches. Note: when the pain of head start, how long they last and what, if anything, provides relief. Record your child's answer to taking any medication headache. Over time, the elements that note in the journal of pain it should help you understand your child's symptoms, so that you can take specific preventive measures.
  • Avoid headache triggers. Avoid all foods or drinks, such as those that contain caffeine, which seem to trigger headaches. Your headache diary can help you determine what asks his son of the headaches, so you know what to avoid.
  • Follow your doctor's plan. Your doctor may recommend preventive medications if the headaches are severe, occur every day and that interfere with the child's normal lifestyle. Certain medications that are taken at regular intervals, such as certain antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or beta — blockers can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.

Keep a pain diary. A diary can help you determine what is the cause of your child's headaches. Note: when the pain of head start, how long they last and what, if anything, provides relief.

Record your child's answer to taking any medication headache. Over time, the elements that note in the journal of pain it should help you understand your child's symptoms, so that you can take specific preventive measures.

Headaches in children

Diagnosis

To learn about the nature of your child, the pain of the head, it is likely that your doctor look at:

  • History of headaches. Your doctor will ask you and your child to describe the headaches in detail, to see if there is a pattern or a common trigger. Your doctor may also ask you to keep a headache diary for a period of time, so you can record details about your child's headaches, such as the frequency, the severity of the pain and possible triggers.
  • Physical exam. The doctor performs a physical exam, including measurement of your height, weight, head circumference, blood pressure and pulse rate, and the examination of the eyes of his son, the neck, the head and the vertebral column.
  • Neurological examination. Your doctor will look for problems with movement, coordination, and / or sensitivity.

If your child is healthy and headaches are the only symptom, no further testing is usually required. In some cases, however, imaging studies and other assessments, can help to determine a diagnosis or rule out other medical conditions that could be causing the headaches. These tests may include:

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

Treatment

Usually, you can treat your child the head pain at home with rest, reduction of noise, plenty of fluids, eat balanced meals and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. If your child is older and has frequent headaches, learn to relax and manage your stress through different forms of therapy can help, too.

Drugs

  • OTCpain soothing.Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) you can usually relieve the headaches of your child. Must 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 associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal in these children. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns.
  • The prescription of drugs.Triptans, a prescription drug used to treat migraines, are effective and can be safely used in children older than 6 years of age. If your child is experiencing nausea and vomiting, migraines, your doctor may prescribe an anti-nausea drug. The drug strategy is different from one child to another, however. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about nausea relief.

OTCpain soothing. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) you can usually relieve the headaches of your child. Must 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 associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal in these children. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns.

The prescription of drugs. Triptans, a prescription drug used to treat migraines, are effective and can be safely used in children older than 6 years of age.

If your child is experiencing nausea and vomiting, migraines, your doctor may prescribe an anti-nausea drug. The drug strategy is different from one child to another, however. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about nausea relief.

Caution: excessive use of drugs is in itself a factor that contributes to headaches (medication overuse headache). Over time, analgesics and other medications can lose their effectiveness. In addition, all medications have side effects. If your child takes medications on a regular basis, including over-the-counter products, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

Therapies

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

  • Relaxation training. Relaxation techniques include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation, in which you tense a muscle at the same time. Then, completely release the tension, until every muscle in the body is relaxed. An older child can learn relaxation techniques in the classroom or at home with books or videos.
  • Biofeedback training.Biofeedback teaches your child to control certain responses in the body which help to reduce the pain. During a biofeedback session, your child is connected to devices that monitor and provide feedback on the functions of the body, such as muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your child learns to reduce muscle tension and decrease your heart rate and breathing. The goal of biofeedback is to help your child get into a relaxed state in order to cope better with the pain.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy can help your child to learn to manage stress and reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. During this type of psychotherapy, a counselor to help your child learn ways to see and face the events of life in a more positive way.

Biofeedback training. Biofeedback teaches your child to control certain responses in the body which help to reduce the pain. During a biofeedback session, your child is connected to devices that monitor and provide feedback on the functions of the body, such as muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Your child learns to reduce muscle tension and decrease your heart rate and breathing. The goal of biofeedback is to help your child get into a relaxed state in order to cope better with the pain.

Self-care

OTC pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), they tend to be effective in the reduction of headache. Before giving your child medication for the pain, keep these points in mind:

  • Read the label carefully and use only the recommended dose for your child.
  • Do not give doses more frequently than recommended.
  • Do not give your child the-counter pain medications more than two or three days a week. Daily use can trigger a headache due to medication overuse, 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 with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal in these children. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns.

In addition to the-counter medication for the pain, the following information may help to alleviate your child's headache:

  • Rest and relaxation. Encourage your child to rest in a dark, quiet room. Sleep is often resolved headaches in children.
  • The use of a cool, wet compresses. While her son to rest, a cool, damp cloth on his forehead.
  • Offer a healthy snack. If your child has not 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 have not been well studied, a number of dietary supplements have been suggested to help the children of headaches, including:

  • Riboflavin
  • Magnesium
  • Coenzyme Q10
  • Vitamin D

Consult your child's doctor before trying any herbal products or dietary supplements to make sure they do not interact with the medications your child, or to have harmful side effects.

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

  • Acupuncture. Practitioners of acupuncture use extremely thin, disposable needles that usually causes a bit of pain or discomfort. Some research has suggested that this treatment can help to relieve the symptoms of headache.
  • The massage. Massage can help to reduce stress and relieve tension, and can help to relieve headaches.

Preparing for your appointment

Normally, 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 is the information to help you prepare for your child's appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Type your child's signs and symptoms, when they occurred, and how long they lasted. It can be useful to keep a pain diary — listing of each headache, when it occurs, how long it lasts and what might have caused.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you are taking your child.
  • Write down questions to ask your doctor.

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

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • The tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis?
  • What treatments are available and which do you recommend?
  • Does my child need a prescription medication, or otc medication work?
  • What follow-up, if necessary?
  • What can we do at home to help relieve the pain?
  • What can we do at home to prevent the headaches?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions, including:

  • When did the symptoms begin? Have changed over time?
  • How often does your child experience these symptoms?
  • How long does the headache usually lasts?
  • Where does the pain occur?
  • The symptoms been continuous or intermittent?
  • Does your child has other symptoms, such as nausea or dizziness?
  • Is there something that your child's symptoms better?
  • Does anything make the symptoms worse?
  • What treatments have you tried?
  • What medications do you take your child?
  • What other members of the family get headaches?

What you can do in the meantime

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

Consider giving your child the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to relieve the symptoms.

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

Symptoms and treatment of Headaches in children