Headaches in Children: When Should You Be Concerned?

Headaches are a common occurrence among children, and while they typically don’t indicate serious underlying issues, they can affect their daily lives. “Children and adolescents, like adults, can experience various types of headaches, such as migraines and tension headaches, with some cases linked to secondary causes like infections or injuries,” explains Dr. Ioanna Kouris, Pediatrician-Child Neurologist at Metropolitan Hospital. Headaches are categorized into primary and secondary types. Primary headaches include tension headaches, characterized by a squeezing sensation around the head, and migraines, marked by throbbing pain often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or vision disturbances. Secondary headaches result from underlying conditions like infections, dehydration, or rarer conditions such as tumors or intracranial bleeding. Contributing factors include stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, and dietary issues. A family history of headaches is also a common trait. Symptoms of headaches in children may differ from those in adults. For example, migraines in children often have shorter durations. Recognizing symptoms is more challenging in younger children who struggle to describe what they feel. Documenting headache characteristics, such as intensity, duration, and triggering conditions, aids diagnosis. Occasional headaches can be relieved with simple measures like rest, proper hydration, neck massage, or using a cold compress. In cases of severe pain, medications like acetaminophen or mild analgesics may be administered under medical supervision. Frequent use of painkillers should be avoided as it might increase headache frequency or intensity. Preventive care includes healthy habits like maintaining regular sleep schedules, proper nutrition, and daily physical activity. Keeping a headache diary helps monitor triggers and adjust management strategies. Medical evaluation is necessary if headaches wake the child from sleep, become more frequent or intense, affect behavior or vision, occur after an injury, are accompanied by persistent vomiting, fever, or neck pain, or fail to respond to usual relief measures. ‘Headaches are common in children and usually do not indicate serious problems. However, timely identification of causes and preventive measures can improve their quality of life. In persistent cases, consulting a pediatric neurologist is crucial,’ concludes Dr. Kouris.