What Causes Headaches?
Headaches are rarely a sign of something serious and are one of the most common complaints in children. Headaches can occur either on their own, also known as primary headaches, or as result of something else, secondary headaches.
Common types of primary headaches include:
Tension headaches: pain is mild to moderate, all over, an usually non-throbbing.
Cluster headaches: usually one side, intense, around the eye and can be associated with eye redness, tearing, and runny nose.
Migraines: throbbing, located in one spot, worsened by activity and can be associated with nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity.
Common causes of secondary headaches include:
Fever and infections
Medicines
Head Injury
Benign intracranial hypertension- commonly known as pseudotumor cerebri, more common in overweight, female adolescents
Rare causes of secondary headaches include:
Brain bleeds
Brain tumors
How to Treat a Headache
Eat healthy and don’t skip meals
Get plenty of rest
Drink plenty of fluids
Tylenol or ibuprofen
Alternative/complementary therapies such as massage or acupuncture
Keep track of headache pattern in a headache diary to track frequency and identify potential triggers
See a doctor in person if…
Worrisome headache symptoms include:
Sudden and severe pain
Awakens child from sleep
Associated with fever and neck pain
Located in the back of the head or persistently in one spot
Progressively worse over time
Worse when lying down, coughing, defecating or when active
No response to medications
Associated with vision changes or weakness of any part of the body