My
child complains about headaches, when should I be concerned?
Most
children and teenagers get at least one headache a year. They're
often different from the headaches adults get, so parents and
healthcare professionals can fail to notice the problem. They start
suddenly, with the child quickly becoming pale and listless, and
often feeling sick and vomiting. Children also generally recover very
quickly. Children's headaches can also affect their stomach, so
tummy-ache is also a common complaint.
What
are the common causes?
- Children
with headaches often get them if, for example, they don't eat
their packed lunch or don't have anything to drink all day. The
best way for parents to prevent their children getting these
headaches is to make sure they have regular meals and drinks, and
that they get enough sleep
- Sport
can trigger children's headaches, probably because of dehydration
and the effect on blood sugar. Some foods can too, especially
caffeine (including cola).
- Sometimes,
headaches can be the result of emotional problems.
It
can be helpful to keep a diary of your child's headaches. If your
child is old enough, they can keep their own diary. This is a good
way of working out specific headache triggers.
Consult
your doctor if:
- Usual
painkillers do not help and the headaches are interfering with daily
activities
- There
is fever, rash, decreased or changing level of consciousness,
irritability, confusion, hallucinations, vision problems, seizures,
possibility of unobserved head trauma
- Sensory,
cognitive or motor manifestations which may precede headache onset,
occur at the same time, or occur after, the headache
- There
are symptoms suggestive of migraine: nausea and vomiting,
hypersensitivity to light, sounds, smells, especially if there is
also a family history of migraine.
At
Richmond Practice our consultant paediatrician offers competent
advice and a good specialist network if your child needs specific
investigations.
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