Headaches in children can be dull, shocking or throbbing pain. It can also be short-term or a chronic headache. In this article from the section diseases And Child health We want to investigate headache in children and ways to diagnose and treat it.
Headaches in children can be the result of various reasons. Common reasons include:
- Excessive physical pressure
- Mental or emotional pressures
- Not eating one of the meals
- Dehydration (can cause headaches in both children and adults)
- Crying too much
Types of headaches in children
To know the causes of headaches in children, we need to learn the types of headaches. Headaches can be primary, which means that they are a problem on their own and are considered the main disease. They can also be secondary or symptomatic, meaning they are only a symptom of an underlying medical condition or injury to the head or neck muscles.
Headaches in children – primary headaches
Relative headaches and migraine headaches are two types of primary headaches. Relative headaches are a common type in children and adolescents that last only for a few minutes, which are experienced by about twenty percent of adolescents. They can have a lot of pain in the temples and temples. Also, scalp moisture is one of its common symptoms.
Migraine headaches occur in about ten percent of teenagers. Its pain can be defined as a shaking and throbbing pain that occurs on one side of the head. Some children may experience pain on both sides of the head and rarely in the back of the head. Migraine headache is more severe than relative headache and lasts for hours and sometimes days. Nausea and vomiting are other symptoms of migraine.
Secondary headaches
Diseases that cause headaches can include the following:
- Injury or moderate wound in the head or neck
- Problems in the sinuses, teeth, ears, eyes and other parts of the face
- Mental problems such as depression and nervous imbalance
- infection
A headache can sometimes be a sign of tumors. Therefore, all headaches should be followed up immediately.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches usually occur in children over ten years old. These headaches often occur on one side of the head and usually behind the eyes and may last for a week or a month. The eyes may become red, watery and have large pupils under the influence of pain. Swelling of the eyelid, runny nose, swelling and swelling of the front of the head are other symptoms.
When should we worry about headaches in children?
Headaches in children are usually due to migraine, stress and dehydration. But they will be worrisome if:
- They are frequent and more than once a month
- When they occur after the child wakes up and continue even after adequate sleep
- If the pain is continuous and does not go away easily.
- The pain is always progressive and intense
- along with symptoms such as fever, neck pain, nausea, changes in vision
- The child loses consciousness when he has a headache.
When these symptoms are observed, it is necessary to contact the doctor as soon as possible, although it may not always indicate a medical situation.
Symptoms of headache in children
Headache symptoms are different based on their type. The differences are mostly in the pain intensity, duration, time of onset and its effect on the child’s daily activities. For example, migraine headaches are accompanied by:
- poor vision
- sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Eye irritation due to light exposure
Symptoms of relative headaches
- Slow onset of pain
- Mild pain on both sides of the head, sometimes the pain can be more but not severe
- Disturbing the child’s sleep routine
- Pain in the back of the neck or head
Sometimes these symptoms can indicate a serious illness.
- A young child complains of a headache
- Sudden onset of severe headache
- Experiencing a headache after waking up or waking up because of a headache
- Pain that worsens with sudden coughing, sneezing, or shaking
- A gradual headache that turns from a mild pain to a very severe one
- Repetition of nausea and vomiting when the child has a headache
- Visual changes
- Personality changes in children
- Having weakness in the legs, movement problem or balance of hands and feet
- Epilepsy or convulsions
In these cases, you must consult a doctor immediately.
Diagnosis of headache in children
In order to fully diagnose a headache, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause and determine the level of the problem. Doctors check the child’s medical records and prepare a physical evaluation as needed.
The doctor’s main questions may include the following:
- When does a headache occur?
- What part of the head hurts?
- How long does the headache last?
- Were there injuries or wounds?
- Have there been any changes in the child’s sleeping and feeding routine?
- Does a particular position of the body make the pain more or less?
- Does the child have sleep problems?
- Is there any sign of mental or emotional stress?
If necessary, the doctor may prescribe a neurological test to diagnose primary headaches. Other diagnostic evaluations listed below may be necessary for secondary headaches:
- MRI helps to check the blood vessels of the brain
- A CT scan can help find tumors, aneurysms, neurological problems, or brain abnormalities
- Polysonography
- Usually, lumbar puncture or spinal tap is necessary to diagnose the medical condition.
Treatment of headache in children
The treatment of headaches also depends on their cause.
- Age of the child
- Type and amount of headache
- Child’s medical history
- The child’s tolerance to certain medications, treatments and lifestyle changes
Treatment methods include ice compresses, rest, over-the-counter and prescribed medications, and lifestyle changes.
Rest is all a child needs during a stress headache or even a chronic, acute headache.
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can relieve a child’s headache. Avoid giving aspirin to children. You should consult a doctor before giving painkillers to the child.
Prescription drugs can be used to treat severe headaches such as migraines. Triptans, which are commonly prescribed to treat migraines, are safer and more effective for teenagers. These drugs relieve pain and control symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes, an overdose or the body’s reaction to the use of drugs can cause headaches. Therefore, before giving the medicine to the child, consult the doctor and make sure to give the medicine.
If the headache is caused by mental and nervous problems, treatment sessions are needed.
Biofeedback exercises are another form of therapy that teaches the child how to deal with pain with physical responses such as muscle tension, changes in blood pressure, and heart rate. The idea is to help the child control the automatic and involuntary nervous system. Exercises and training are usually combined with relaxation therapy.
Intermittent treatments such as Acupuncture And massage can also be used to relieve partial headaches.
Research has shown that nutrients such as magnesium, riboflavin, and a vitamin-like compound called sinosine Q-10 can reduce the number of days a person has migraine headaches per year.
Consult your child’s doctor before using over-the-counter medications, periodic treatments, and nutritional supplements.
How to prevent headaches in children?
Along with getting enough rest to help your child, you can prevent headaches by using the home remedies listed below.
- Keep the child away from headache-causing factors such as loud music, bright lights, sudden movements, lifestyle changes, and mental or physical stress.
- The child should sleep enough because its lack is one of the main causes of headaches in children.
- Sometimes an ice pack can help relieve the pain of partial headaches. Placing a bag of frozen vegetables or an ice pack on the painful area can reduce the pain.
- If your child has a migraine, keep the environment as calm as possible.
- Fear, anger and worry are mental factors that cause headaches in children. Learning how to breathe and practicing it, as well as meditation training, can help them control these stressful situations.
- Give your baby healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid fatty and oily foods instead. Foods that cause unstable and fluctuating blood sugar can also cause headaches.
- Dehydration headaches can be prevented by making sure to drink enough water throughout the day.
If your child gets headaches more than before, write down the information about his illness:
- When did the headache start (exact time since the child complained of the headache)
- When is it over?
- What was the child doing before the headache started?
- What did the child eat before the headache started?
- What was the child doing before the headache subsided?
Recording the child’s diet, activities and moods can help you diagnose the cause of the headache during the treatment process.
Home remedies for headaches in children
Herbal or natural remedies can help relieve or eliminate headaches in children. However, these treatments may not always be helpful for secondary headaches.
- Known as an anti-migraine medicinal plant, marigold helps to improve 25% of migraine headaches. Mina flower can be used as a prevention for migraine headaches.
- Peppermint oil has a calming effect on the nerves, which can be useful for partial headaches in children. This oil contains menthol, which relaxes muscles and relieves pain. Mix one to two drops of peppermint oil with almond and jojoba oil and massage the temples with this mixture.
- to smell Eucalyptus oil And lavender can relieve Sinus headaches Help the child.
- Cinnamon can also help relieve pain and muscle injuries. Mix some cinnamon with warm milk and give it to the child for partial headache relief.
- Cloves also have pain-relieving properties and in some people they relieve early headaches. Add some cloves to your baby’s food or give them cloves to chew on throughout the day.
Please note that these treatments are not suitable for all children and will not be effective, so be sure to consult a doctor before applying these treatments and methods.
The first step to prevent headaches is to eat a healthy diet containing plants, fruits and vegetables. A regular way of life in which the child sleeps and is fed on time every day can also prevent the onset of partial headaches.
