Childhood headache is a very common complaint. Although childhood headaches often cause anxiety in parents, the majority of these headaches are due to non-dangerous diseases such as migraine. Studies have shown that nearly half of primary school children have headache complaints from time to time. This rate increases even more during adolescence. Migraine-type headaches may start in primary school and their frequency increases towards adolescence. Studies have found that the frequency of migraine in adolescents is around 20%.
What are the Causes of Childhood Headaches?
The most common cause of childhood headache is migraine. Migraine headaches in children usually occur on both sides of the head and children have difficulty showing the exact location of the pain. Before the pain, there may be complaints called aura and usually related to vision. Childhood migraine headache usually lasts shorter than migraine headache in adults and usually lasts less than four hours. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, discomfort from light and sound, and excessive urination may accompany the pain. Tension-type headache is also a cause of pain in children. This type of pain feels like a band around the head. It is typical to be triggered by stress and distress. Children may also experience headache during upper respiratory tract infections. In such cases, symptoms such as runny nose and cough accompany the headache. These are the most important causes of childhood headache.
Can this type of headache be a harbinger of disease?
The most feared causes of childhood headache are brain tumors and infections such as meningitis. If the pain in childhood headache has just started, especially in the nape of the neck and is severe, if its intensity increases gradually, if it increases with sneezing, coughing and straining, if the pain is accompanied by severe vomiting and fever, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately. Again, headaches that start after trauma should be treated urgently. In such cases, brain imaging (tomography or MRI) is usually performed.
Is There Treatment for These Headaches?
Migraine and other headaches seen in childhood headaches can be treated. Painkillers can be used to relieve the headache and stop the pain attack. If the pain occurs every day or is frequent enough to interfere with quality of life, daily anti-attack medications may be preferred. However, lifestyle changes and nutrition are more important in childhood headaches. Especially in children with migraine, attention should be paid to sleep patterns. Exercising regularly outdoors, eating a balanced diet and avoiding ready-to-eat foods also have a reducing effect on headaches. In addition, headaches in some children can be triggered by certain foods. If such foods are available, avoiding them may stop the headache. Psychological treatments and relaxation methods such as biofeedback can also be used as alternative treatments in children with stress-related headaches.
Childhood headache is one of the most common complaints in childhood. Frequent pain may affect the child's quality of life and may also lead to a decrease in academic achievement. Many biological, psychological and familial factors usually play a role in childhood headaches. For this reason, the cooperation of specialists from different disciplines may often be required. In cases of new onset, severe pain accompanied by fever and nausea and vomiting, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Although there are effective medications against headaches, in most children, attention to factors such as exercise, nutrition and sleep relieves the pain.