Causes and Treatment of Headache in Children

What are the causes of headaches in children? Does headache cause nausea in children? What are the symptoms of migraine in children and how are they treated? We’ve covered all the details you need to know!

Do children have a headache?

Yes, just like adults, young children can suffer from migraine, stress-induced, chronic or tension-type headaches. Headache in children is usually seen on the forehead and bilaterally.

What are the causes of headaches in children?

• Throat infection  and other infections,
• rotten tooth,
• nasal congestion,
• ear inflammation,
• accumulation of water in the brain,
• tumor in the brain,
• vascular occlusion in the brain,
• bleeding in the brain,
• high anxiety,
• Caffeine consumption
• Skipping meals or starving
• hormonal changes,
• stress,
• take a long car journey,
• Minor head injuries are among the causes of headaches in children.

In addition, headaches in children can be caused by such organic causes, or it can be associated with diseases of unknown origin, such as migraine or tension-type headache. That’s why it’s important to closely monitor your child with a headache and watch how the pain develops.

What are the symptoms of migraine in children?

Child migraine passes with shorter attacks than adults. Migraine is more common in boys, especially during school years. With the introduction of hormonal changes, headaches in adolescents are more intense in girls. Migraine attacks in children usually last 2 hours or less and show the following symptoms:

• Throbbing or pressure headache
• Nausea,
• Vomiting,
• Do not be disturbed by light and sound,
• Bad temper.

At times, you may find that your child is suffering from severe headaches that will affect his daily life. This may cause your child to want to be alone and go to sleep in his room. Because children’s migraines tend to go away when they sleep. Migraine can also be seen in children as headaches and nausea.

What triggers migraine in children?

When the cause of the headache cannot be determined in the child and the diagnosis of migraine is made, instead of starting drug treatment, the causes leading to the attacks should be found and eliminated. Factors that trigger headaches and migraines in children are:

• Hunger,
• Insomnia,
• Excessive fatigue and movement
• Sleeping late and getting up early in the morning,
• Watching TV or being at the computer until late,
• school stress,
• sludge,
• Exposure to strong odors such as perfume
• Consuming foods such as chocolate, tea and coffee,
• In some children, there may be ready-made foods containing preservatives such as white cheese and nuts.

How to treat migraine in children?

In the treatment of migraine in children, issues such as regular nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes are given priority.

• Not consuming ready-made foods
• Consumption of plenty of vegetables and fruits,
• Outdoor play and exercise
• Activities such as staying away from tablets and mobile phones can be beneficial.

If there is no result despite such improvements, preventive drug treatments are started. Painkillers and anti-nausea medications can be used to stop a migraine attack.

Let’s also say this: Under the conditions that cause migraine and tension-type headache in children; Since stressful life events, divorce, peer bullying, physical violence or abuse can occur, this situation must be questioned during treatment.

What is good for headaches in children?

First of all, let’s say that the approach to the child with a headache should not be to constantly give him painkillers. Because this can cause the headache to be more severe and last longer.

If the headache is not caused by a serious health problem, you can control the situation with a pain reliever recommended by your doctor in cases where the pain is severe. It is also good for your child to rest in a dim and quiet room.

In which situations are headaches dangerous in children?

• If the severity of the headache increases while lying down, coughing or stretching,
• If it is different from previous pain and is very severe,
• If your child is constantly crying because of the pain,
• If he wakes up at night because of pain,
• If there is a shift in the eye,
• If you have numbness or weakness on one side of your body,
• If blurred consciousness, nausea and vomiting are seen with headache,
• If the child has personality and behavioral changes when he/she experiences pain,
• If the headache is accompanied by visual impairment, short stature, skull murmur or signs of increased intracranial pressure, a serious health problem may be in question.

In such a case, you should take your child to the doctor as soon as possible.