What Causes Headaches In Children?

Do you notice this symptom in your child?

• Pain or discomfort of the Head
• Pain or discomfort in the forehead to the back of the Head
• Not caused by a head injury

A headache can be an uncomfortable sensation that you feel in your Head. It can also refer to pain felt around the Head and face, including the eyes, forehead, temples and cheeks. The pain can range from mild to severe and may simultaneously affect one or several areas of the Head.

Some children have headaches that come and go without any obvious cause. Others have headaches that happen after certain triggers (for example, stress or hunger), while others get chronic headaches that last for months or years.

Headaches are often not serious, but if your child is experiencing them frequently or has other concerning symptoms, it’s important to talk to a doctor. 

How are headaches different in children?

Children’s headaches differ from adults in the following ways:

• Children’s headaches often don’t last as long (between two hours and 72 hours).

• Children feel the pain all over their heads instead of just one side or section.

• Children have more stomach complaints, including abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea.

 

Signs and symptoms of different headaches

Children can experience a wide range of headaches, from mild and infrequent to severe and frequent. Headaches can be thought of as primary headaches and secondary headaches.

The most common primary headaches in children and their symptoms are:

 

Tension-type headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Stress and mental or emotional conflict are often factors in triggering pain related to tension headaches.

They occur when tight muscles in your neck and scalp contract without any apparent reason or cause. The pain is usually mild to moderate in intensity and felt on both sides of the Head or one side only.

While every child may experience symptoms differently, the following are the most common symptoms of a tension headache:

 

• Slow onset of the headache
• The Head usually hurts on both sides.
• Pain is dull or feels like a band around the Head.
• Pain may involve the head or neck’s posterior (back) part.
• Pain is mild to moderate but not severe.
• Change in the child’s sleep habits
• Children with tension headaches typically do not experience nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity.

 

Migraines 

Migraines are episodic (occur a few times a month), severe headaches where your child experiences sensitivity to light and noise followed by nausea and vomiting. Migraines can be hereditary. About 60% of people who have migraines also have an immediate family member (mother, father, sister, and/or brother) who experience migraines.

 

The symptoms of migraine in children vary widely depending on age and other factors such as stress or fatigue. In general, however, the following are the most common symptoms:

 

• Premigraine symptoms (an aura) such as seeing flashing lights, a change in vision, or funny smells
• Pain on one or both sides of the Head
• Pain that may be throbbing or pounding
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Nausea and vomiting
• Belly pain discomfort
• Sweating
• The child looks pale

Secondary headaches and Symptoms

Secondary headaches are from an organic cause in the brain (problems in the structure of the brain) due to another health condition or disease and are the least common type of headaches. A secondary headache can also be called a ‘referred headache’ because it is caused by something other than a problem with blood vessels or pain-sensitive nerves inside your Head.

Symptoms of a secondary headache may include:

• Headaches that start very early in the morning
• Pain that is made worse by coughing or sneezing
• Sudden onset of pain
• Severe pain
• Headache that is becoming more severe or continuous
• Personality changes along with headache
• Changes in vision
• Weakness in the arms or legs or balance problems
• Seizures or epilepsy
• Recurrent episodes of vomiting without nausea or other signs of a stomach virus
• A very young child with a headache
• A child that is awakened by the pain of a headache

What causes children to suffer from headaches?

When children or adolescents experience headaches, there is often a family history of headaches. Common triggers for primary headaches are migraines or tension headaches in these age groups, including insufficient sleep and stress. In rare cases, exercise can also trigger these types of headaches.

Secondary headaches, which occur after a person has already had a headache, are often caused by viral infections, such as colds, sinusitis and ear infections. Less commonly, secondary headaches can be caused by tumours or intracranial bleeding.

When to see a doctor

Because headaches can have multiple causes and there’s no single treatment for all headaches, see your doctor if:

• the headaches are getting worse
• they have a headache more than once a week
• the headache wakes your child from sleep, or the headache is worse in the morning
• the headache is associated with vision changes, vomiting or high fevers
• the headaches begin to disrupt your child’s school, home or social life
• you identify that stress is causing your child’s headaches but cannot manage it without further help.

 

If your child has frequent, severe headaches that don’t respond to over-the-counter painkillers, your child’s doctor may refer them to an optometrist who can help by targeting vision-related headaches such as headaches that occur after prolonged near work or difficulty maintaining focus at the computer. The optometrist can also rule out other health problems that may cause headaches. If psychological stress is identified as a trigger for headaches, it may be advisable for your child to see a psychologist.

Key points to remember

• Headaches can make it hard for a child to concentrate and perform well in school, sports and other activities.
• Keeping a headache diary can help identify the things that trigger your child’s headaches, so you can try to avoid them.
• Regular healthy meals, sleep, and exercise is important to help prevent headaches.
• Although you may worry that your child is suffering from a major headache, they are quite rare in children. Even if the headache isn’t serious, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. At Ambleside Family Optometry, our doctors have years of professional experience, so you can rest easy knowing you’re getting an informed diagnosis and treatment.