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Pediatric Headache
Just like adults, children can experience various types of headaches, including tension, sinus and migraine.
What is Pediatric Headache?
Headaches are fairly common among children and teens of all ages. Headaches are one of the top five health problems that affect children, with 40 percent of children suffering from headaches by age seven and 75 percent by age 15. Most headaches are harmless, but if they persist and get worse over time, they could be a sign of a serious problem, such as a brain tumor (very rare).
Most head pain is harmless, and will usually go away on its own. You should take your child to a doctor immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms in combination with a headache:
- Any symptoms that cause your child to wake up during the night
- Flashes of light
- Loss of vision
- Muscle weakness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Vertigo (feeling that the room is spinning)
- Vomiting
What are the different types of Pediatric Headache?
The most common type of headache that children experience are tension headaches (stress headaches). Other types include:
Sinus headaches
If your child has a cold or allergies, the openings of his or her sinuses may be blocked mucus or swollen tissue. The pressure caused by swelling and congestion causes sinus headaches. Some symptoms of a sinus headache are pain or pressure in the forehead or around the eyes and cheeks, or tender areas over and under the eyes. When your child blows his or her nose, bends down, or jumps, the headache may get worse.
Migraines
Migraines (especially severe headaches that seem to run in families and may be caused by physical and chemical changes in a child’s brain) Migraines occur when blood vessels in the brain constrict temporarily. Children with migraines may experience pain that affects the whole head; attacks lasting from less than an hour to several hours; nausea or vomiting that lasts after head pain subsides; abdominal pain and/or car sickness; a sudden start to severe pain; sensitivity to light and noise; dizziness; lack of energy; and blurred vision.
Cluster headaches
Concussion-related headaches
Headaches with unknown causes or mixed classification
Medication overuse headaches
How is Pediatric Headache diagnosed?
When your child visits his or her provider, or comes in for an evaluation at the Children’s Health Headache Clinic, we will:
- Ask you and your child to describe his or her headache history in order to identify patterns, common symptoms, and possible triggers
- Conduct a physical exam to check for muscle tightness and postural problems, high blood pressure, and other issues that could trigger headaches
- Conduct a neurological exam to see if your child is having any problems with coordination, movement, or sensation
If your child passes these tests, is otherwise healthy, and shows common symptoms – no further tests are needed. Your provider may recommend:
- Lifestyle modifications concerning sleep, diet, and exercise
- Over-the-counter pain medications, as needed
- Avoidance of dehydration by drinking enough water
- Stress management
In some cases, the provider may order imaging scans to pinpoint a diagnosis or rule out other medical conditions. These tests can include:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan to diagnose or rule out tumors, infections, and other medical problems
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the blood vessels of the brain and/or diagnose or rule out tumors, strokes, aneurysms, neurological diseases, and other brain abnormalities
- Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to test for bacterial or viral meningitis, if your child is experiencing a high fever and neck pain/stiffness
What are the causes of Pediatric Headache?
Common causes of headaches in children include:
- Emotional stress
- Eye strain due to poor vision
- Fever
- Illness
- Infection, such as a cold or sinus infection
- Minor head trauma
Triggers
Common triggers for migraines include:
- Anxiety
- Bright lights
- Certain foods
- Change in sleep patterns
- Changes in weather
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Too much physical activity
- Too much sun exposure
How is Pediatric Headache treated?
For common tension headaches, your provider will recommend lifestyle modifications, avoiding triggers, and treating headaches with over-the-counter pain medications if needed. Children with chronic migraines may need prescription medications. Headaches stemming from colds and sinus infections should respond to regular treatment of those conditions.
Certain children with severe headaches may benefit from nerve blocks (numbing) or Botox injections.
Your provider and/or the team at the Headache Clinic may also recommend relaxation and behavior modification techniques; rest; a healthy diet and adequate water intake; use of a cool compress when headache symptoms arise; and keeping a headache journal to monitor symptoms.
Pediatric Headache Doctors and Providers
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Michael Dowling, MD Pediatric Neurologist -
Alan Farrow-Gillespie, MD Pediatric Anesthesiologist -
Saima Kayani, MD Pediatric Neurologist -
Eric Remster, MD Pediatric Neurologist -
Tommy Spain Jr., MD Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Pain Management -
Deryk Walsh, MD Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Pain Management -
Cynthia Wang, MD Pediatric Neurologist -
James DeMasi, APRN, PNP-AC/PC Nurse Practitioner - Anesthesiology and Pain Management -
Britney Etheridge-Cox, APRN, PNP-PC Nurse Practitioner - Neurology -
Alicia Harding, APRN, FNP Nurse Practitioner - Anesthesiology and Pain Management -
Jennifer Styers, APRN, PNP-AC/PC Nurse Practitioner - Pain Management
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are headaches common in children?
Roughly 40 percent of children suffer from headaches by age seven and 75 percent by age 15. Approximately 10 percent of children suffer with occasional migraines, with half experiencing their first attack before age 12.
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Do migraines run in families?
Yes, four out of five migraine sufferers have a family history.
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Can I help prevent my child’s migraines?
Yes, regular eating and sleeping, adequate water intake, exercise, stress management, and avoiding triggers – like certain foods – can help prevent some of your child’s migraine attacks.
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What headache symptoms require immediate medical attention?
If your child’s headaches wake him or her from sleep; worsen or become more frequent; cause changes in your child’s personality; follow an injury, like a blow to the head; feature persistent vomiting; or are accompanied by fever and neck pain or stiffness – see a provider immediately.