In response to requests for more information about children’s headaches, members of our neurology team compiled answers to some of the questions they often hear related to how to help minimize childhood headaches and when to seek professional help.
Headaches are a common problem in children, a frequent reason for doctor visits and the most common complaint for which people see a neurologist. They can begin at any age and often worsen during adolescence.
There are many common reasons for childhood headaches. Common “triggers” include:
Headache management starts with living a healthy lifestyle and managing the triggers listed above. To promote a healthy lifestyle, be sure your child:
Also, avoid overuse of over-the-counter rescue medications (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to treat headaches when they occur. Do not use rescue medication more than two to three times a week and talk to your child’s doctor if you find your child needing frequent rescue medication.
Always inform your child’s primary care physician or pediatrician about any symptoms your child is experiencing. Consult your child’s PCP if headaches are a new concern or if they persist despite treatment with over the counter medication.
Any of the following headache symptoms may result in a referral to a child neurologist:
Migraine headaches are a specific type of headache that are often described as recurrent throbbing headaches that typically affect one side of the head. They are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting and sometimes accompanied by disturbed vision. Migraine headaches may occur in 7 percent of all children and 90 percent of children who experience migraine headaches have a parent with a history of headaches.
Does your child experience headaches? Download this headache diary to track symptoms. This information can be helpful for the pediatrician or neurologist.
More than 50 percent of our child neurology referrals are for pediatric headaches. We recently recruited additional child neurologists to better meet the growing need for this service. Our headache team now includes two child neurologists and two nurse practitioners. The team focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of headaches before they become disabling and minimizing the use of medication unless necessary. Our team provides Botox and occipital nerve blocks to chronic migraine patients that do not respond to traditional migraine management, as well as the unique technique of teaching self-hypnosis for children and families who are interested in this alternative headache therapy.